[US] Google co-founder calls for 60-hour workweek to win AI race

In the US, Google co-founder Sergey Brin has called on employees developing the company’s AI models to commit to 60-hour workweeks and daily office attendance, HR Grapevine reports.

Mr Brin did, however, caution that anything more than this would risk burnout.

The New York Times shared an internal memo in which Mr Brin warned that anything less than full dedication risks slowing Google’s competitive edge in the AI race.

“Competition has accelerated immensely, and the final race to AGI is afoot,” he wrote. “I think we have all the ingredients to win this race, but we are going to have to turbocharge our efforts.”

Such a push to expand working hours reflects a growing trend for companies to intensify workplace expectations and reverse hybrid policies to drive productivity.

During his call for increased effort, however, Mr Brin warned about the risk of burnout.

“Sixty hours a week is the sweet spot of productivity,” he said, stating that excessive workloads beyond this threshold could be detrimental.

The memo doesn’t mandate a change to Google’s official return-to-office (RTO) policy - which currently requires employees to be in the office at least three days a week but the remarks make it clear that Mr Brin believes a full-time office presence is key to achieving AI breakthroughs.

“I recommend being in the office at least every weekday,” his memo said.

Such a stance reportedly reflects wider shifts in corporate attitudes toward remote work, particularly in sectors where innovation and speed are key.

Source: HR Grapevine

(Link and quotes via original reporting)

In the US, Google co-founder Sergey Brin has called on employees developing the company’s AI models to commit to 60-hour workweeks and daily office attendance, HR Grapevine reports.

Mr Brin did, however, caution that anything more than this would risk burnout.

The New York Times shared an internal memo in which Mr Brin warned that anything less than full dedication risks slowing Google’s competitive edge in the AI race.

“Competition has accelerated immensely, and the final race to AGI is afoot,” he wrote. “I think we have all the ingredients to win this race, but we are going to have to turbocharge our efforts.”

Such a push to expand working hours reflects a growing trend for companies to intensify workplace expectations and reverse hybrid policies to drive productivity.

During his call for increased effort, however, Mr Brin warned about the risk of burnout.

“Sixty hours a week is the sweet spot of productivity,” he said, stating that excessive workloads beyond this threshold could be detrimental.

The memo doesn’t mandate a change to Google’s official return-to-office (RTO) policy - which currently requires employees to be in the office at least three days a week but the remarks make it clear that Mr Brin believes a full-time office presence is key to achieving AI breakthroughs.

“I recommend being in the office at least every weekday,” his memo said.

Such a stance reportedly reflects wider shifts in corporate attitudes toward remote work, particularly in sectors where innovation and speed are key.

Source: HR Grapevine

(Link and quotes via original reporting)