GOOGLE’S CHILLING COUP: AI WHISPERER NOAM SHAZEER RETURNS TO GOOGLE, STEALS TALENT FROM CHARACTER.AI IN BOLD MOVE
In a move that has left the tech world reeling, Noam Shazeer, co-founder and CEO of Character.AI, has abandoned ship and returned to Google, taking a small but significant chunk of Character.AI’s talent with him. This brazen power play raises serious questions about the future of AI research and the dominance of Big Tech.
Shazeer, the mastermind behind Google’s Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA), has seemingly betrayed the trust of his colleagues at Character.AI, leaving the startup in shambles. Character.AI’s co-founder Daniel De Freitas is also jumping ship, while Dominic Perella, the startup’s general counsel, will serve as interim CEO. The company claims that most of its staff will remain, but can anyone really trust them?
This sudden about-face is all the more shocking given Character.AI’s impressive $150 million in funding from a16z. It’s clear that Shazeer’s return to Google is not just a casual visit – he’s bringing the talent and technology with him.
As part of the deal, Google has signed a non-exclusive agreement with Character.AI to use its tech. This raises eyebrows, especially in light of recent scrutiny from regulatory bodies. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DoJ) in the U.S., as well as the EU, may soon be knocking on Google’s door to investigate these reverse acqui-hires.
Google’s statement attempting to downplay the significance of Shazeer’s return is laughable: "We’re thrilled to welcome back Noam, a preeminent researcher in machine learning, who is joining our research team." Translation: "We’re thrilled to have stolen our competition’s talent and technology."
This bold move has sent shockwaves through the tech industry, leaving many wondering what other Big Tech giants will follow suit. As the lines between competitors continue to blur, the consequences for innovation and regulation are unclear. One thing is certain, however: Google has just gained a significant advantage in the AI arms race.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story, and remember to reach out to me at im@ivanmehta.com or on signal at ivan.42 if you have any inside information or scoops.
Author: Kayitsi.com
