Google appoints former Character.AI head to lead Gemini's technical department

Alphabet's Google has just signed a deal with Noam Shazeer to co-leads its main AI project. Shazeer was a long-term Google researcher and was a former of AI startup called Character.AI. Leaders including Oriol Vinyals and Jeff Dean are already co-leading the Google's Gemini, and as reviewed by Google in a memo to staff, Shazeer will also be serving as a technical leader on Gemini.

Character.AI, founded in 2022, gained prominence for its innovative chatbot technology, enabling users to interact with both real and fictional characters. The startup's valuation soared to $1 billion amid the AI boom, although it faced challenges in generating revenue.

Shazeer recently rejoined Google from Character.AI, the chatbot company he founded in 2021. Google paid billions to bring him and several employees to DeepMind and secure a licensing agreement with Character.AI. In an email response to the move, Shazeer expressed excitement about joining the team. The memo detailing this was initially reported by The Information.

Gemini is a cutting-edge line of AI models developed by DeepMind, Google's advanced AI division. These models are being seamlessly integrated into key products, including Google Search and Pixel smartphones, enhancing their capabilities and user experience.

Shazeer, who first joined Google in 2000 and co-authored a pivotal 2017 AI research paper, recently returned to the company. Character.AI, the chatbot company he founded, leveraged advancements from this paper and raised $193 million, reaching a $1 billion valuation.

Although Google considered investing in Character.AI, it ultimately decided to bring Shazeer back instead.

Shazeer expressed enthusiasm about rejoining Google, highlighting the potential for collaboration within the DeepMind team. He noted his pride in the achievements of Character.AI and the exciting possibilities that lie ahead with Google's support.

This strategic hiring mirrors similar actions by Amazon and Microsoft to acquire top AI talent amid regulatory scrutiny. Additionally, a U.S. judge recently ruled that Google’s search engine violated antitrust law by creating an illegal monopoly.

The implications of this partnership extend beyond just talent acquisition; it reflects a growing trend of collaboration between established tech giants and emerging startups. As AI technology continues to advance, such alliances are likely to play a crucial role in shaping the future landscape of artificial intelligence.