In a significant move, Google has appointed Noam Shazeer, the former founder of Character.AI and a longtime researcher at the company, as a co-lead of its Gemini AI models. Shazeer will work alongside Jeff Dean and Oriol Vinyals in spearheading the development of Gemini, a line of AI models integral to Google’s products such as Search and Pixel smartphones.
Shazeer’s return to Google comes after the tech giant reportedly invested billions to bring him and several other key employees from Character.AI, along with securing a licensing agreement with the startup. Founded by Shazeer in 2021, Character.AI focuses on advanced chatbot technology and has achieved a $1 billion valuation with $193 million in funding.
In a statement regarding his new role, Shazeer expressed enthusiasm about rejoining Google, stating, “We are thrilled to join the best team on earth building the most valuable technology on earth.” The memo announcing Shazeer’s return was first reported by The Information.
Shazeer originally joined Google in 2000 and was instrumental in co-authoring a pivotal 2017 research paper that laid the groundwork for today’s AI advancements. This research significantly influenced the technology behind Character.AI, which has emerged as a major player in the chatbot sector.
Google had considered investing hundreds of millions in Character.AI before opting to bring Shazeer back in-house, a strategy that mirrors similar high-profile talent acquisitions by Amazon and Microsoft. These moves have drawn regulatory scrutiny, including investigations by the Federal Trade Commission.
Shazeer’s appointment comes as Google faces ongoing regulatory challenges, including a recent antitrust ruling against its search engine practices. The tech giant’s decision to strengthen its AI capabilities with Shazeer’s expertise reflects its response to growing competition and regulatory pressures.
In related news, Lip-Bu Tan has stepped down from Intel’s board. Tan, a semiconductor industry veteran who joined Intel in September 2022, cited personal reasons for his departure. His exit coincides with Intel’s challenging financial outlook, including a forecast of lower-than-expected revenue and planned workforce reductions. Tan expressed continued support for Intel’s efforts despite his resignation.
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