11 executives and researchers who left Google in 2025 — mostly for Microsoft

Google lost AI and cloud employees to rivals, mainly Microsoft, in 2025.

Carlos Barria/REUTERS

• Google lost at least 11 AI and cloud executives to rivals, mainly to Microsoft, in 2025.
• Departures include top engineers and leaders from Google DeepMind and Google Cloud units.
• Google DeepMind's main hiring rival used to be a DeepMind cofounder who joined Microsoft in 2024.

Google was not spared by this year's AI talent wars.

The Gemini creator lost employees from its AI and cloud business...