Google is facing another visible AI talent loss, this time involving two researchers tied to its Gemini work. According to Bloomberg, Jonas Adler and Alexander Pritzel are leaving Google for Anthropic after playing key roles in the development of Google’s Gemini model.
The move adds to a broader pattern that has recently put Google’s AI bench under scrutiny. Several prominent researchers have left or announced departures for rivals, with OpenAI and Anthropic both appearing as major destinations.
Two Gemini Researchers Are Heading to Anthropic
Bloomberg reported that Jonas Adler and Alexander Pritzel are leaving Google for Anthropic. The report described both as having played key roles in building Google’s Gemini model.
That detail matters because Gemini is one of Google’s central AI efforts. When researchers associated with a major model leave, the story is not only about individual career moves. It also raises questions about how competitive the market for AI research talent has become.
TechCrunch said it reached out to Google for comment. The source article did not include a response from Google.
The Departures Fit a Wider Pattern
Adler and Pritzel are not isolated examples. The source describes their exits as part of a concerning trend for Google, following other recent departures involving well-known AI figures.
Last week, Noam Shazeer announced that he was leaving Google for OpenAI. Shazeer had been at Google since 2000, except for the three years he spent building Character.AI, a chatbot startup described in the source as controversial.
Google effectively acquihired Character.AI for $2.7 billion, in part to bring Shazeer back to work on Gemini. His decision to leave again therefore stands out because it follows an earlier effort by Google to return him to the company’s AI work.
Anthropic Has Also Drawn DeepMind Talent
Anthropic is also the destination for John Jumper, who said he was leaving Google just days after Shazeer made his announcement. Jumper was a Google DeepMind Director.
Alongsi de DeepMind CEO Demis Ha ssabis, Jumper won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on AlphaFold. The source describes AlphaFold as a system that can predict 3D protein structures from animo acid sequences.
That makes Jumper’s departure another high-profile example in the same period. In the source article, the recent movement involves researchers connected to Gemini, DeepMind, AlphaFold, OpenAI, and Anthropic.
Why Equity Could Keep Talent Moving
The source points to one possible reason the trend could continue: OpenAI and Anthropic are preparing to go public. That could give both companies a recruiting advantage when approaching top AI talent.
For researchers considering rival offers, the promise of equity can be significant. The source does not describe specific compensation packages, but it does frame this as a strong moment for OpenAI and Anthropic to recruit.
The broader picture is straightforward. Google remains central to AI research, but rivals are competing aggressively for people who have helped build important systems. The latest reported moves by Adler and Pritzel suggest that the competition is not slowing down.
What This Means for Google
The source does not state how the departures will affect Gemini or any other Google project. Still, the sequence of exits gives the story weight: Adler and Pritzel to Anthropic, Shazeer to OpenAI, and Jumper to Anthropic.
For Google, the immediate issue is perception as much as staffing. A few departures can be explained as normal movement in a competitive industry. A series of notable AI researchers leaving for direct rivals becomes harder to ignore.
The central fact remains limited but important: top AI researchers continue to leave Google for companies competing at the highest level of the field. With OpenAI and Anthropic preparing to go public, the source suggests that pressure on Google’s ability to retain AI talent may continue.