Apple has managed to entice a significant number of AI talent from Google in recent years, with at least 36 Googlers making the switch since 2018, a report from the Financial Times reveals.
According to a recent analysis of LinkedIn profiles, Apple’s recruitment efforts in the AI space have been particularly successful, as seen in a research paper on multimodal large language models published last month. The paper listed six authors who were former Google employees that had been brought onboard by Apple in the past two years.
In addition, it was noted that nine out of the 31 authors listed on the research paper had Google as their last employer on their LinkedIn profiles, with two authors coming from Microsoft. This trend highlights the ongoing talent war among major tech companies as they strive to enhance their AI capabilities.
Interestingly, Google itself has not been immune to talent poaching, with the recent recruitment of OpenAI’s former head of developer relations, Logan Kilpatrick. Even Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly attempted to lure Google’s AI researchers by sending them personal emails.
The competition for AI expertise extends beyond the Big Tech players, with startups also vying for top talent to support their growth initiatives. This intense competition for AI talent has been described as hyper-competitive by Mustafa Suleyman, the newly appointed CEO of Microsoft AI, who emphasized the fierce creativity and competition prevalent in the tech industry.
As the battle for AI talent continues to heat up, it is clear that companies across the spectrum are ramping up their efforts to recruit and retain top talent in this critical field. With Microsoft unveiling plans for an AI hub in London, and the ongoing back-and-forth between major tech players, the race for AI expertise shows no signs of slowing down.
It remains to be seen how this ongoing talent war will impact the AI landscape and the innovative developments that will emerge as a result of these recruitment efforts.
