Former Google CEO blames work-from-home policy for company lagging behind OpenAI
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt criticizes remote work for slowing Google's AI progress, praising work cultures at TSMC and Elon Musk's companies.
Eric Schmidt, who served as Google's CEO from 2001 to 2011, attributed Google's lag in AI advancements to its prioritization of work-life balance and flexible hours. He expressed his opinions during a discussion with Professor Erik Brynjolfsson and students at Stanford University, pointing out that while Google employees are often working from home, startups like OpenAI and Anthropic are pushing boundaries because their people work extremely hard.
Schmidt praised Elon Musk, noting that Musk's strict office attendance policies at SpaceX and Tesla have led to higher professionalism. In 2022, Musk required employees to work at least 40 hours per week in the office or face termination. Schmidt further compared the work culture in Taiwan's TSMC, where PhDs are required to work on factory floors, to the more relaxed American work environment.
Despite his sharp criticism, Schmidt did acknowledge the changes Google has made, including requiring workers to be in the office at least three days a week. However, he believes that an even more rigorous work ethic is necessary for Google to catch up in the AI race. Schmidt's comments shed light on the challenges tech companies face in balancing work-life flexibility with competitive drive.