Geoffrey Hinton, widely known as the “Godfather of AI” and a professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, has declared that Google is finally overtaking OpenAI in the artificial intelligence race. In an interview with Business Insider, Hinton expressed that it’s “more surprising that it’s taken this long” for Google to surpass its competitor.
The timing of Hinton’s comments comes on the heels of Google’s highly praised launch of Gemini 3, an AI model update that many tech industry observers believe has elevated Google beyond OpenAI’s GPT-5 capabilities. Additionally, Google’s Nano Banana Pro AI image model has proven to be a significant success. This marks a dramatic reversal from three years ago when Google reportedly declared a “code red” following ChatGPT’s explosive launch. Now, recent reports suggest it’s OpenAI sounding the alarm as Google gains momentum.
Hinton, who previously worked at Google Brain and helped pioneer modern AI research, attributes Google’s resurgence to several key advantages. “Google has a lot of very good researchers and obviously a lot of data and a lot of data centers,” he explained. Perhaps most significantly, Google’s ability to manufacture its own AI chips gives it a “big advantage” over competitors. This strategic capability was further highlighted by reports that Google might broker a billion-dollar deal to supply Meta with its own AI chips, sending Google’s stock price higher.
According to Hinton, Google was actually at the forefront of AI development for years but deliberately held back from releasing products. “Google invented transformers. Google had big chatbots before other people,” he noted. The company’s caution stemmed from Microsoft’s disastrous 2016 launch of the “Tay” AI chatbot, which was quickly taken offline after posting racist content. Google CEO Sundar Pichai previously acknowledged this hesitation, stating the company hadn’t gotten its chatbot “to a level where you could put it out and people would’ve been okay with Google putting out that product.”
The announcement coincides with Google’s $10 million CAD donation to establish the Hinton Chair in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Toronto, which the university will match. Hinton left Google in 2023 to speak more freely about AI risks and was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics in 2024 for his groundbreaking neural network research.
Key Quotes
I think it’s actually more surprising than it’s taken this long for Google to overtake OpenAI.
Geoffrey Hinton, the “Godfather of AI” and former Google Brain researcher, expressed surprise at how long it took Google to reclaim AI leadership, suggesting the company always had the fundamental advantages needed to lead.
Google has a lot of very good researchers and obviously a lot of data and a lot of data centers. My guess is Google will win.
Hinton outlined the key structural advantages that position Google to dominate the AI race, emphasizing the importance of talent, data, and infrastructure in determining long-term AI leadership.
Google invented transformers. Google had big chatbots before other people.
Hinton reminded the industry that Google was actually the pioneer in key AI technologies, including the transformer architecture that powers modern large language models, but held back from releasing products publicly.
Google, obviously, had a very good reputation and was worried about damaging it like that.
Hinton explained why Google was cautious about releasing AI products, referencing Microsoft’s disastrous Tay chatbot incident in 2016 that resulted in racist content being posted online.
Our Take
Hinton’s endorsement of Google represents a fascinating full-circle moment in AI history. The researcher who helped build the foundation for modern AI at Google, then left over ethical concerns, is now predicting his former employer’s victory in the AI race. This isn’t merely cheerleading—Hinton’s analysis focuses on structural advantages like chip manufacturing and research depth rather than any single product launch. The irony is palpable: Google’s early caution, once seen as a strategic blunder that allowed OpenAI to capture public imagination with ChatGPT, may have been prudent risk management. Now, with lessons learned and infrastructure advantages fully leveraged, Google appears positioned to reclaim leadership. However, the AI race remains dynamic, and OpenAI’s partnership with Microsoft provides its own formidable resources. The real winner may ultimately be the broader AI ecosystem, as intense competition accelerates innovation.
Why This Matters
This assessment from Geoffrey Hinton carries enormous weight in the AI industry, given his foundational contributions to neural networks and deep learning that underpin modern AI systems. His declaration that Google is overtaking OpenAI signals a potential power shift in the AI landscape that could reshape competitive dynamics for years to come.
The implications extend beyond corporate rivalry. Google’s advantages in chip manufacturing, data infrastructure, and research talent suggest that vertical integration and resource depth may ultimately determine AI leadership rather than first-mover advantage. This could influence how other tech giants structure their AI strategies and investments.
For businesses and developers, Google’s ascendance means potentially more powerful and accessible AI tools through its ecosystem. The competition between these AI leaders also drives rapid innovation, benefiting end users with better models and capabilities. However, Hinton’s continued warnings about AI risks—even while praising Google’s progress—remind us that technological advancement must be balanced with responsible development and deployment practices.
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-godfather-geoffrey-hinton-google-overtaking-openai-2025-12