Sergey Brin Pushes Google’s AI Team for 60-Hour Workweeks to Achieve AGI

Google co-founder Sergey Brin has called for employees working on the company’s Gemini AI models to work 60 hours weekly and be present in the office daily, according to an internal memo viewed by The New York Times.

“I recommend being in the office at least every weekday,” Brin wrote, adding that “60 hours a week is the sweet spot of productivity.” He warned that working more than 60 hours could lead to burnout, while those working less might harm team morale.

“A number of folks work less than 60 hours and a small number put in the bare minimum to get by,” Brin noted. “This last group is not only unproductive but also can be highly demoralizing to everyone else.”

The memo comes as Google faces intense competition in artificial intelligence development following the 2022 launch of ChatGPT, which triggered an AI race among tech giants.

Brin emphasized the urgency of developing artificial general intelligence (AGI) – technology where machines match or exceed human intelligence. “Competition has accelerated immensely and the final race to A.G.I. is afoot,” he wrote. “I think we have all the ingredients to win this race, but we are going to have to turbocharge our efforts.”

The Google co-founder specifically highlighted the importance of leveraging Google’s own AI for coding, suggesting that AI-driven self-improvement is crucial for achieving AGI. He urged Gemini team members to become “the most efficient coders and AI scientists in the world by using our own AI.”

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Despite Brin’s push, the memo does not officially change Google’s existing return-to-office policy, which requires employees to work in-office at least three days per week.

Google’s directive aligns with a broader corporate trend of companies reversing hybrid work policies. Amazon announced last September that corporate employees must return to the office five days a week starting in 2025. Other major companies like AT&T, JPMorgan Chase, and Goldman Sachs have also moved away from hybrid-work arrangements.

Brin returned to Google after ChatGPT’s launch to help the company regain its competitive edge in AI. In the two years since his return, Google has reorganized its business, rebranded its AI, and integrated the technology across its popular apps.

The memo has sparked mixed reactions. Some professionals praise Brin’s commitment to pushing the company’s success, while critics argue his approach reflects an outdated mindset that could lead to burnout.

“The hustle-centric 60-hour week isn’t productivity—it’s burnout waiting to happen,” wrote workplace mental health educator Catherine Eadie in a post shared by LinkedIn’s news editors.

Others support Brin’s perspective, with a business analytics COO writing, “Brin is just being honest—successful people have always put in long hours.”

Some observers noted the irony in the situation. “It’s strange to push for longer hours when the very AI models they’re building might replace their jobs,” a marketing executive commented in a post highlighted by LinkedIn.