Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin is stirring controversy by pushing his AI teams to clock 60-hour workweeks as the tech giant races to dominate artificial intelligence. While the billionaire entrepreneur claims this is the “sweet spot” for productivity, experts warn this approach could backfire spectacularly.
At a Glance
- Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin advocates for 60-hour workweeks for employees working on AI projects
- Brin recommends employees be in the office “at least every weekday” to boost productivity
- The push comes amid intense competition in the Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) field
- Workplace experts warn extended hours may lead to burnout and diminishing returns
- Other tech giants like Meta and Amazon are implementing similar productivity measures
Brin Returns to Push Google’s AI Agenda
In a leaked memo to Google’s Gemini AI team, company Co-Founder Sergey Brin declared that employees should work approximately 60 hours per week to maximize productivity in the race to develop Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Brin, who returned to Google after stepping down in 2019 following the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, is now taking an aggressive approach to ensure Google doesn’t fall behind competitors.
The billionaire also insisted that Google staff should be physically present in the office every weekday, a significant change from Google’s current hybrid schedule that requires at least three days of in-office work. This push reflects growing anxiety among tech leaders about maintaining a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
The “Sweet Spot” or Recipe for Burnout?
Brin’s memo has sparked heated debate about work-life balance and productivity in the tech industry. While some business leaders support his approach, workplace experts and mental health advocates strongly disagree with the premise that longer hours translate to better results.
“In my experience, about 60 hours a week is the sweet spot of productivity,” Brin said.
The Google Co-Founder didn’t mince words about employees who don’t meet his standards, writing in his memo: “A number of folks work less than 60 hours and a small number put in the bare minimum to get by. This last group is not only unproductive but also can be highly demoralizing to everyone else.”
Experts Push Back on 60-Hour Workweek
Mental health professionals and productivity experts quickly challenged Brin’s assertion. Catherine Eadie, a workplace mental health educator, warned against the potential consequences of such demanding schedules.
“The hustle-centric 60-hour week isn’t productivity—it’s burnout waiting to happen,” Catherine Eadie said.
John P. Trougakos, a management professor who studies workplace productivity, noted that there’s solid evidence against marathon work sessions. “We see people taking longer to do the same amount of work than they would do when they were fresher,” Trougakos explained, highlighting how productivity often diminishes with extended hours.
Industry-Wide Shift Toward Higher Demands
Google isn’t alone in ramping up expectations. Other tech giants are implementing similar measures to boost performance and office attendance. Meta, led by Mark Zuckerberg, plans to cut approximately 5% of its workforce to eliminate underperforming employees. Meanwhile, Amazon has mandated a five-day office return policy to enhance collaboration.
“I’ve decided to raise the bar on performance management and move out low-performers faster,” Zuckerberg said regarding Meta’s strategy.
One marketing executive pointed out the irony in Brin’s demands: “It’s strange to push for longer hours when the very AI models they’re building might replace their jobs.” This observation highlights the peculiar situation where Google employees are being asked to work longer hours developing technology that could ultimately automate many human jobs.
