The $2.7 Billion Question: Why Google Rehired AI Genius Noam Shazeer?

Viral News: Noam Shazeer, a pioneering AI engineer and early Google employee (2000), has re-joined the tech giant after parting ways. This homecoming comes with a hefty price tag of $2.7 billion.

AI Genius Noam Shazeer

Shazeer's departure in 2021 stemmed from Google's hesitance to release a chatbot he co-developed with Daniel De Freitas. Undeterred, the duo founded Character.AI, a successful AI startup valued at $1 billion in 2023.

Last month, Google acquired Character.AI, not just for its leading-edge technology, but to secure Shazeer's expertise. The hefty sum covers both the licensing of Character.AI's intellectual property and Shazeer's return to Google's DeepMind AI unit. Notably, this deal grants Google immediate access to Character.AI's innovations, bypassing regulatory hurdles.

Google Rehired Noam Shazeer

Industry insiders believe Shazeer was the driving force behind the acquisition. His reputation precedes him, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt hailed Shazeer in 2015 as someone with the potential to crack human-level AI. Shazeer's 2017 creation, Meena, a versatile chatbot, exemplified his vision. However, Google deemed Meena too risky for release due to safety and fairness concerns.

This move marks a significant shift for Shazeer, who previously criticized Google's cautious approach to AI development. Now, as one of three leaders spearheading Google's next-gen AI project, Gemini, he holds the reins on the future of the company's AI technology. Shazeer's return not only bolsters Google's AI prowess but also financially rewards him with a significant stake in Character.AI.