AI Talent War Sparks Controversy as Google Accused of Paying Researchers to Sit Idle

Google DeepMind is reportedly paying some AI researchers in the UK to remain inactive for up to a year under strict noncompete agreements, as competition for top talent intensifies across the AI sector. According to Business Insider, the arrangement prevents these employees from joining rivals like OpenAI or Microsoft, though they continue to receive full pay.

The practice has sparked frustration among affected researchers, some of whom have allegedly reached out to Microsoft’s VP of AI in search of guidance. In a public post, he described their situation as “despairing” and urged DeepMind employees to push back. Google has not commented publicly, but told BI such agreements are used “selectively.”