Google is paying AI staff to sit and do nothing, just so they don’t join rivals

Google

Almost every day, tech companies are launching smarter and more efficient versions of their AI chatbots — Meta recently unveiled Llama 4. The competition is heating up, and so is the demand for skilled AI engineers. In the middle of this race, Google has taken a rather unusual approach to keep its people from jumping ship — it’s paying some of them not to work at all.

According to a report by Business Insider, Google’s AI division, DeepMind, has been using tough noncompete agreements for some employees in the UK. These agreements stop them from joining rival companies like OpenAI or Microsoft for up to a year. During that time, some employees are still getting paid — basically earning a salary while being forced to sit on the sidelines.

While that might sound like a break, it’s not exactly relaxing. Many researchers feel anxious about missing out on major developments in AI. Since the field is moving so fast, even a few months away from active work can feel like falling behind.
The situation has become so frustrating for some that they’ve reportedly reached out to Microsoft’s VP of AI, saying they feel “despair” over not being able to leave and continue their work elsewhere.

Google didn’t has not reacted to the reports yet, but did tell Business Insider that it uses these noncompete agreements “selectively.”
This all reflects how intense the competition has become in the AI space. With big players like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI all racing to lead the next wave of AI innovation, keeping top talent — or at least keeping them away from rivals — has become a major priority.

But the question remains: can companies really win the AI race by putting some of their brightest minds on pause?