Why Google Paid $2.7 Billion to Rehire AI Pioneer Noam Shazeer
In a striking move, Google has reportedly paid $2.7 billion to rehire AI expert Noam Shazeer, who previously left the company to co-found the successful startup Character.AI. At 48, Shazeer is recognized as a leading figure in artificial intelligence, having initially joined Google in 2000. However, his departure in 2021 followed the company’s refusal to release a chatbot he had developed alongside colleague Daniel De Freitas.
After leaving Google, Shazeer and De Freitas launched Character.AI, which quickly became a standout in the tech landscape, achieving a valuation of $1 billion just last year. In light of Character.AI’s success, Google announced that both founders would rejoin the tech giant’s AI unit, DeepMind. The hefty $2.7 billion investment not only secured Shazeer’s expertise but also involved licensing the innovative technology developed at Character.AI.
This bold decision underscores Google’s commitment to strengthening its AI capabilities and staying competitive in the rapidly evolving tech industry. What do you think about this strategic move? Is it a worthwhile investment for Google?
