Gemini’s co-lead is leaving Google to join OpenAI
9to5 Google 2026-06-18 01:45:00
Context: Noam Shazeer, the co-lead of Google's Gemini and VP of Engineering, is leaving the company to join OpenAI. Shazeer announced his departure on Twitter, citing a difficult decision to move on from Google, where he has held various roles since 2000. His new role at OpenAI was not specified in the announcement.
Key Facts
- Noam Shazeer, the co-lead of Gemini and VP of Engineering at Google, announced on Twitter that he is departing Google to join OpenAI, effective immediately, although his new role at OpenAI was not specified.
- Shazeer has been a VP of Engineering at Google since August 2024, according to his LinkedIn profile, and previously served as CEO of Character.ai from late 2021 through 2024, when he returned to Google as part of a licensing deal between the two companies.