Sergey Brin: RTO Key to Google Winning AGI Race

Google co-founder Sergey Brin has urged employees to return to the office every weekday to help the company win the artificial general intelligence (AGI) race. In a memo sent to employees, Brin emphasized the importance of being in the office "at least every weekday" and suggested that working 60 hours per week is the "sweet spot" for productivity. While Google's official policy still requires workers to come to work in person three days per week, Brin's recommendations have sparked concerns among employees about a potential shift in the company's hybrid work policy.

Brin's emphasis on return to office (RTO) comes as tech giants like Amazon have mandated full-time office returns, while Microsoft has reassured staff that it has no plans to call staff back into the office full time. However, Google's approach to RTO has been more flexible compared to other tech giants. The company requires employees to be in the office three days per week, with the option to work remotely the rest of the time. Brin's memo is not an official policy change, but it highlights the pressure Silicon Valley giants are feeling to compete in AI.

Google has been at the forefront of AI development, but it was caught by surprise by OpenAI's 2022 release of ChatGPT. Since then, the company has worked diligently to catch up with industry-leading AI models of its own. Brin's return to Google in recent years has been driven by the company's desire to regain its footing in the AI race. In his memo, Brin stressed the importance of maintaining productivity on work-from-home days to support the company's flexible policy.

However, some Google employees remain cautious about a viable future shift to a full-time office return. Inside one of tech's other behemoths, Microsoft, EVP of Cloud & AI Group Scott Guthrie promised staff in an internal meeting that Microsoft has no intention to call staff back into the office full time. Two Microsoft employees who attended the meeting told Business Insider that employees heard Guthrie's guarantee only applies if high productivity levels are sustained.

Google's approach to RTO has been more flexible than Amazon's, which requires employees to be in the office five days a week. Microsoft's approach is similar to Google's, with no plans to call staff back into the office full time, but productivity levels must be sustained to maintain this policy. As tech giants continue to reevaluate where and when their employees work, 'productivity' will remain a central topic in the conversation.



In conclusion, Sergey Brin's emphasis on RTO highlights the competitive nature of the AI landscape and the importance of productivity in winning the AGI race. As tech giants continue to reevaluate their work policies, maintaining high productivity levels will be crucial for success in the AI industry. Google's flexible approach to RTO has been more accommodating to employees' needs compared to other tech giants, but the company must continue to balance the demands of productivity with employee well-being and satisfaction.