Google’s parent firm Alphabet Inc paid billions to bring Shazeer on board, reportedly for an ambitous project.
However, isn’t Shazeer’s first stint with Google. He quit the tech giant in October 2021, when he co-founded Character.AI, a chatbot startup that attracted heavy investments, including funding from venture capitalist Andreessen Horowitz.
To secure Shazeer’s expertise, Google reportedly invested around $2.7 billion to license Character.AI’s technology.
Google acquired stakes from Character.AI’s investors and employees, resulting in a substantial payout for Shazeer, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Shazeer’s rehiring comes as part of a broader collaboration between Google and Character.AI.
The two companies have signed a non-exclusive agreement to utilize Character.AI’s technology, a move that reflects Google’s strategy to enhance its AI capabilities through external partnerships.
Alongside Shazeer, several other key personnel from Character.AI will assume leadership roles at DeepMind, Google’s AI research lab. Dominic Perella, the general counsel of Character.AI, will serve as interim CEO of the startup during this transition.
Challenges for Character.AI
Despite its success, with over 20 million monthly active users, Character.AI has faced difficulties in monetising its services and managing user behavior.
These challenges expose the complexities within the AI industry, where user engagement does not necessarily translate into revenue, raising questions about sustainability.
Shazeer will reportedly play a pivotal role in leading Google’s latest AI initiative, Gemini.
He is one of three leaders steering this project, and his experience will be critical in navigating the challenges and expectations surrounding its development.
Noam Shazeer’s rehire by Google signals a strategic shift in its approach to AI, focusing on collaboration and investment.
While this move has the potential to enhance Google’s AI capabilities, it also raises questions about the long-term sustainability of Character.AI and the broader implications for the tech industry.