Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, has reportedly urged employees at the company’s DeepMind AI division to commit to 60-hour workweeks amid increasing competition in the artificial general intelligence (AGI) space. In an internal memo, Brin emphasized the importance of longer working hours and in-office collaboration to accelerate AI advancements, according to a report by The New York Times.
Brin’s memo suggested that 60-hour workweeks are the “sweet spot” for productivity, warning that those who work significantly more may risk burnout, while those who contribute less could hinder overall progress. He also took a firm stance on workplace commitment, noting that some employees put in only the bare minimum, which he claimed is not only unproductive but demoralizing to their colleagues.
DeepMind, acquired by Google in 2014, has been at the forefront of AI research, achieving breakthroughs such as AlphaGo and AlphaFold. However, as the race to AGI intensifies, competition from companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and other tech giants has heightened the pressure to accelerate progress. Google has been actively integrating DeepMind’s capabilities with its broader AI efforts, including the Gemini AI models, in a bid to maintain its competitive edge.
Brin’s call for extended work hours reflects a broader industry trend where AI firms push employees to work longer hours to stay ahead. Similar pressures have been observed in other leading AI labs, where engineers and researchers are often expected to dedicate significant time and effort to breakthroughs that could define the future of AI.
However, such demands have sparked concerns about work-life balance, employee well-being, and potential burnout. Critics argue that excessive workloads could lead to diminishing returns, stifling creativity and innovation in the long run.
As AI development continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, the debate over work culture in tech firms remains a pressing issue. Whether Brin’s directive will enhance DeepMind’s AI advancements or contribute to employee dissatisfaction remains to be seen.
