According to a source, Google co-founder Sergey Brin has called on staff members developing the company’s Gemini AI models to adopt 60-hour workweeks and daily office presence, signaling a heightened urgency in the quest for artificial general intelligence (AGI).According to an internal memo cited by The New York Times, Brin informed the employees that if they put in more effort, Google may lead the industry in reaching artificial general intelligence (AGI), a milestone when robots surpass human intelligence.
In an internal memo this week, he stated that “I recommend being in the office at least every weekday” and that “60 hours a week is the sweet spot of productivity,” cautioning that working more than that could result in burnout.
It is “not only unproductive but also can be highly demoralizing to everyone else,” he said, expressing concern about those who work less than that or the bare minimum.
Brin’s demand for longer hours is in line with a larger trend in which businesses are reversing hybrid work arrangements in an effort to maximize productivity.
“…the last race to A.G.I. is underway.”
Brin’s order coincides with a boom in AI research spurred by ChatGPT‘s 2022 debut, which has increased rivalry in Silicon Valley. Although the message does not formally change Google’s current return-to-office policy, which mandates three days of in-person work, it does highlight Brin’s belief that AGI is achievable if staff members “turbocharge” their efforts.
“The final race to A.G.I. is afoot, and competition has accelerated immensely,” he wrote.
Brin continued, “I believe we have everything we need to win this race, but we will need to step up our efforts.”
In particular, he emphasized the value of using Google’s AI for coding, arguing that self-improvement powered by AI is essential to reaching AGI. Brin encouraged Gemini team members to use their own AI to become “the most efficient coders and AI scientists in the world.”