Noam Shazeer, a prominent engineering vice president at Google and co-lead of the Gemini AI model, announced his transition to OpenAI on June 17, 2026.
Shazeer’s departure comes amidst a fierce race for talent among leading AI companies, especially as OpenAI gears up for an initial public offering (IPO).
A Significant Loss for Google
Having joined Google in 2000, Shazeer was instrumental in the development of AI technologies, including a pivotal 2017 paper that significantly influenced the industry.
I’m excited to share that I’ll be joining OpenAI and look forward to working with the exceptional team there. It has been an honor and a pleasure to be part of Google’s journey.
Noam Shazeer, VP of Engineering at Google
Shazeer played a crucial role in closing the gap between Google’s Gemini and OpenAI's ChatGPT, reinforcing his reputation as a leader in the AI field.
Google acknowledged his contributions, stating, 'We are grateful for Noam’s meaningful contributions to Google over the years.'
- Shazeer co-led the Gemini AI project at Google.
- He was previously the head of the startup Character.AI.
- Google reportedly invested $2.7 billion to bring him back in 2024.
As AI firms continue to evolve and compete, Shazeer’s move to OpenAI signals a shift in the industry’s talent dynamics. The decision underscores the importance of innovative leadership in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.