Google faced significant losses in the AI talent wars of 2024, with numerous high-profile engineers, scientists, and executives departing for competitors, particularly Microsoft. The exodus highlights the intensifying competition for AI expertise as Big Tech companies race to dominate the artificial intelligence landscape.
The rivalry between Google DeepMind and Microsoft’s AI division has become particularly personal, pitting two DeepMind cofounders against each other. Mustafa Suleyman, who co-founded DeepMind with Demis Hassabis and Shane Legg in 2010, now leads Microsoft’s consumer AI efforts after Google acquired DeepMind for over $500 million in 2014. Suleyman departed Google a decade later to found Inflection AI, before Microsoft absorbed him and his team in a $650 million “acqui-hire” deal, making him the company’s AI lead.
Among the notable departures from Google’s engineering ranks, Amar Subramanya left his vice president of engineering position after 15 years to join Microsoft as corporate vice president of AI in July, though he later moved to Apple in December. Adam Sadovsky, a distinguished software engineer and senior director with nearly 18 years at Google, joined Microsoft’s AI division as corporate vice president in June. Sonal Gupta, a principal engineer at Google DeepMind, also transitioned to Microsoft’s AI team.
The management exodus was equally significant. Albert Lee, senior director of corporate development for Google Cloud and DeepMind, who helped orchestrate Google’s $32 billion acquisition of cloud security startup Wiz, left for OpenAI as vice president of corporate development in December. Tim Frank, senior director of product management responsible for advertiser and customer engagement platforms, joined Microsoft as corporate vice president of AI monetization. Dave Citron, former senior director of product at Google DeepMind, moved to Microsoft in August as corporate vice president of its AI group, citing enthusiasm for “Microsoft AI’s pace, principles, and product craft.”
Other departures included Warren Barkley, who left his position as head of product at Google Cloud to become vice president of product management at Nvidia, and Sunil Potti, general manager of Google Cloud’s security business for over five years, who joined a venture capital firm focusing on cybersecurity. This talent migration occurs as hiring cools in the broader Big Tech job market, making the competition for AI specialists even more intense.
Key Quotes
energized by Microsoft AI’s pace, principles, and product craft
Dave Citron, former senior director of product at Google DeepMind, wrote this in a LinkedIn post announcing his move to Microsoft as corporate vice president of its AI group in August. The statement suggests Microsoft’s AI division may be offering a more dynamic and appealing work environment than Google.
working in AI
Brian Hall, who left his position as vice president of products at Google in September, posted this cryptic message on LinkedIn about his next role without disclosing the company. Hall had previously made headlines when Amazon sued him in 2020 for leaving to join Google, highlighting the contentious nature of AI talent recruitment.
Our Take
The scale of Google’s AI talent losses in 2024 reveals a troubling trend for the company that once dominated AI research. While Google pioneered transformer architecture and acquired DeepMind early, it now appears to be struggling with retention as competitors offer more compelling opportunities. Microsoft’s aggressive recruitment strategy, particularly its $650 million acqui-hire of Inflection AI, demonstrates a willingness to pay premium prices for proven AI leadership. The irony is stark: Google bought DeepMind for $500 million in 2014, only to see one of its cofounders lead a rival AI effort a decade later. This talent migration could have long-term consequences for Google’s AI capabilities, especially as these departed leaders build competing products and potentially recruit additional Google employees. The movement of talent to OpenAI, Microsoft, Nvidia, and even Apple suggests the AI industry is fragmenting, with multiple companies now capable of attracting top-tier talent that once gravitated primarily to Google.
Why This Matters
This talent exodus from Google represents a critical shift in the AI industry’s competitive landscape. The departure of experienced engineers, scientists, and executives to rivals like Microsoft, OpenAI, and Nvidia signals that Google may be losing its edge in attracting and retaining top AI talent, despite being an early leader through its DeepMind acquisition.
The personal rivalry between DeepMind cofounders Suleyman and Hassabis adds a dramatic dimension to the Microsoft-Google AI competition, with former colleagues now leading competing visions for consumer AI. Microsoft’s willingness to spend $650 million to acquire Suleyman’s team demonstrates the premium companies place on proven AI leadership.
For the broader tech industry, this talent migration suggests that AI expertise has become the most valuable commodity in Big Tech, with companies willing to pay extraordinary sums and offer senior leadership positions to secure it. The movement of talent from Google Cloud and DeepMind to competitors could impact Google’s ability to maintain its competitive position in both enterprise AI and cutting-edge research, potentially reshaping the balance of power in the AI industry for years to come.
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/executives-and-researchers-who-left-google-in-2025-2026-1