Alphabet cofounder Sergey Brin has told Google employees that working 60-hour weeks, including weekends, is the key to winning the race to artificial general intelligence (AGI), according to an internal memo obtained by the New York Times. The directive, issued Wednesday, marks a sharp escalation in the company's push to accelerate AI development, even as it continues to shed thousands of jobs.
Brin, who has largely stepped back from day-to-day operations since 2019, wrote that being in the office at least every weekday is recommended, and that 60 hours a week is the "sweet spot of productivity." He also criticized those who put in the "bare minimum," calling them "unproductive" and "highly demoralizing" to colleagues. The memo contrasts with Google's current policy, which requires only three days in the office.
The push comes as Alphabet has laid off over 13,000 employees in recent years, despite reporting $26.3 billion in profit last October. The company has redirected resources toward AI, including its Gemini model, which Brin urged employees to use more in coding. However, Gemini has faced public criticism, including an incident where it gave incorrect information about weight comparisons.
Why the Urgency on AGI?
Brin framed the effort as a competitive necessity, writing that "competition has accelerated immensely and the final race to AGI is afoot." This language echoes that of other tech leaders like Sam Altman and Elon Musk, who have also hyped AGI's potential. However, experts remain skeptical about the feasibility of AGI, with some pointing to a slowdown in AI progress despite the hype.
Timnit Gebru, founder of the Distributed AI Research Institute and a former Google ethical AI researcher, has been a vocal critic of the AGI race. On a 2023 podcast, she questioned the need for the largest models, calling it a "pissing contest." She argued that the loudest voices with the most money are shaping AI discourse, often overstating AGI's capabilities.
The memo has reignited concerns about work culture at Google, which has been criticized for unfair performance evaluations and arbitrary layoffs. Brin's suggestion of longer hours, while not mandatory, adds pressure on employees already navigating an uncertain job market.
Alphabet has not commented on Brin's own work hours, and the company did not respond to requests for comment. The long-term implications of the AGI push remain unclear, but for now, Google's workforce is being asked to do more, even as the promise of AGI remains unfulfilled.
