Google Pays AI Staff To Prevent Rivals

• Google's DeepMind is using aggressive noncompete agreements in the U.K.
• Some AI staff are paid to do nothing for up to a year.
• This practice is part of retaining top AI talent amid fierce competition.
• The FTC banned most noncompetes in the U.S., but the rule doesn't apply to DeepMind's London office.
• Some DeepMind staff have reached out to Microsoft in despair over these noncompete clauses.

Source: TechCrunch