Google co-founder Sergey Brin has told his employees that they should work for 60 hours a week, claiming that by working harder, the company will be able to lead in artificial general intelligence (AGI). In an internal memo, Brin noted that the race for developing AGI is heating up and that Google must ‘turbocharge’ its efforts to remain the leader.
Brin’s remarks have once again sparked debates on work-life balance, especially if you consider that Google already has a policy that requires employees to work in the office at least three days a week. He explained that although there are employees who work less than 60 hours, there are those who barely meet the minimum workweek, which he says is demoralizing to the productive workers. He also told Google’s AI team to improve the turn around time by using the company’s own AI in writing codes.
This advocacy for more longer workweeks is consistent with the trend in the tech industry. Infosys founder Narayana Murthy had earlier advised India’s youth to follow a 70-hour workweek, saying that there is a need for productivity to keep up with the competition globally. Larsen & Toubro chairman SN Subrahmanyan went even further, saying he was disappointed that he was unable to get all employees to come to work on Sunday, and suggested that the workweek should be 90 hours.
Brin’s statement is consistent with Google’s desperation to lead in the development of AGI, an area that has the potential to redefine the future of AI. With other companies like OpenAI and Meta developing quickly, Google is facing a challenge of having to retain its position as one of the leading companies in AI innovation. Nevertheless, the demand for additional working hours brings questions as to the well-being of the employees in the race for AGI leadership.
