Nando de Freitas, a former employee of Google, accused the company of using binding terms to retain AI talent, making it difficult for them to leave the company amid fierce competition between technology giants.
According to De Freitas, Google's AI division, DeepMind, has implemented uncompetitive deals with some UK employees. These contracts could force AI developers to take a full year off if they leave the company, leading to a feeling of falling behind in a rapidly developing field. He called it a manifestation of "abuse of power".
De Freitas emphasized that the best way to avoid falling into this situation is to consider carefully before signing a labor contract. However, he also admitted that many people may accept unfavorable terms due to financial needs or being attracted by the high salaries offered by Google.
He added that after leaving Google and taking on the position of AI Vice President at Microsoft, he has received compliments from DeepMind employees who are looking to escape the constraints. However, he advised them to seek support from other leaders within the company to find a solution.
In response to these allegations, Google responded that their labor contracts are still in line with market standards, and that the use of restrictive terms is to protect legitimate interests in the context of highly sensitive work.
Although non-competitive terms have been banned in many places, Google can continue to apply them in the UK, where DeepMind is headquartered. This has sparked debate about the fairness and legality of personnel control in the artificial intelligence industry.
