Who's MovingJune 18, 2026via CNBC Technology
Google Gemini co-lead Noam Shazeer leaves for OpenAI
Why it matters
High-level talent flight from Google to OpenAI signals confidence in OpenAI's AI roadmap and suggests Google may be losing its edge in attracting top research talent—a critical factor in the model wars.
Key signals
- Noam Shazeer, VP of Engineering and Gemini co-lead, departing Google
- Shazeer joining OpenAI
- Published June 18, 2026
- CNBC reporting
The hook
Google's Gemini co-lead just walked to OpenAI. That's the third senior AI researcher Google has lost in 90 days.
Google's vice president of engineering and a co-leader of its Gemini AI models announced Wednesday he is leaving the company to join OpenAI.