As competition with OpenAI intensifies, Google co-founder Sergey Brin is reported to have requested employees to strengthen in-office work. This is interpreted as an intention to change the currently operational hybrid work model to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) development.
According to The New York Times (NYT), Brin stated in a message sent to the Google AI model "Gemini" development team on the 26th (local time), "It would be good to work in the office at least on weekdays." Currently, Google maintains a hybrid work system that requires employees to come to the office at least three days a week, but this is interpreted as a suggestion to abolish it and expand in-office work. He also emphasized work efficiency, noting, "Working 60 hours a week is the optimal productivity point."
Google's move is analyzed as being in response to heightened competition in the AI market with OpenAI, Microsoft, Meta, and others. Brin emphasized, "Competition has accelerated, and the final race toward artificial general intelligence (AGI) is underway. We have every element to win the competition, but now is the time to ramp up efforts." He instructed the Gemini development team, "We must become the most efficient AI researchers in the world using our AI technology."
Brin left Google in 2019 and returned in 2023 to lead the restructuring of the AI business and strengthen its technological competitiveness. However, as results did not meet expectations, he harshly criticized the AI developers forum last year, stating, "I ruined the image generation feature of Gemini." The NYT reported, "Brin has been trying to reorganize the AI business and rebrand it to enhance competitiveness during the two years since his return."