Summary: A recent report reveals that some employees in Google’s AI division, DeepMind, are being compensated despite not actively working. This strategy aims to prevent valuable talent from joining competing firms.

Additionally, the issue of noncompete agreements is pronounced in the UK, complicating the situation further. According to Business Insider, certain AI employees at Google have been placed in a situation where they receive pay for no work.

This approach stems from an intense rivalry between tech giants such as Google and OpenAI, prompting Google to take drastic measures to hold onto its employees. DeepMind’s strategy includes leveraging aggressive noncompete agreements for some of their staff in the UK, which effectively forbids them from seeking employment with competitors.

In the US, developments concerning noncompete agreements have taken a different turn, with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) banning most of these clauses last year. However, this regulation does not extend to the UK, where the issue is especially relevant for DeepMind’s London headquarters.

Compounding the scenario, Microsoft’s VP of AI recently reported that some DeepMind employees have contacted him “in despair,” highlighting the difficulty they face in navigating their noncompete clauses. TechCrunch has sought comments from Google regarding these developments but has yet to receive a response.

This situation reveals the underlying intensity within the AI sector, where companies like Google are willing to incur costs by paying employees without assigning work, simply to stave off competition. It is likely that other tech firms may be engaging in similar practices, though such information has not emerged yet.

With the AI field viewed as pivotal for both the present and future, the scarcity of skilled employees amplifies the intensity of this talent war.