Google DeepMind Faces Backlash Over Aggressive Noncompete Agreements in UK

Employees voice frustration as Google's UK-based AI division enforces yearlong noncompete clauses to retain talent during the intensifying AI race.

Google DeepMind is enforcing noncompete agreements in the UK that prevent employees from joining competitors for up to a year, even while paying them during this period.
The practice is part of Google's strategy to retain top AI talent as competition with rivals like OpenAI and Microsoft intensifies.
Unlike the U.S., where the FTC banned most noncompete agreements in 2024, the UK allows such clauses, creating regulatory disparities.
Affected employees have expressed frustration over restricted career mobility, with some reportedly reaching out to Microsoft AI VP Nando de Freitas for advice.
Google defends the policy as market-standard and selectively applied to protect its business interests, but critics argue it stifles innovation in a fast-moving field.