For years, Google was thought of maybe the perfect job in tech. The corporate constructed a repute for beneficiant advantages, pay, and the chance to work on merchandise utilized by billions of individuals.
It stays a dream employer for a lot of, however the AI growth has created new alternatives past Massive Tech — and it is not simply celebrity AI researchers leaving. Some rank-and-file Google workers have additionally determined their finest path lies exterior Google, whether or not that is becoming a member of one other employer, launching a startup, or pursuing a completely totally different profession.
Enterprise Insider interviewed six latest Google workers about why they left. This is what they informed us. Some responses have been edited for size and readability.
I felt some FOMO at Google through the AI growth
Yousuf Imran
Yousuf Imran labored as an account government at Google for roughly six years earlier than leaving the corporate in April to launch an AI startup. He is 41 and lives within the San Francisco Bay Space.
I earned practically $1 million final 12 months as an account government at Google, however I felt some “FOMO” across the AI growth.
I feel most individuals at Google would inform you a similar in the event that they had been being candid.
Google pays very effectively, however the fairness packages at OpenAI and Anthropic are in a distinct universe. A 3- or four-year inventory grant at one among these corporations could be life-changing cash.
That math was a part of my very own calculus in deciding to begin my very own enterprise targeted on AI gross sales instruments. If the one approach to get actual upside on this AI second is fairness, in some unspecified time in the future you ask your self whether or not the fairness ought to be in your personal firm.
Unsure job safety was one other think about my choice. What struck me in regards to the latest layoff rounds at Google was that they hit genuinely gifted individuals. It wasn’t a efficiency story; it was a consolidation story. AI is letting corporations restructure groups and flatten layers, and when that is the motive force, tenure and expertise do not defend you the best way they used to.
The scarier alternative was staying at Google
Aashna Doshi
Aashna Doshi labored as a software program engineer at Google till Might, when she left to construct an AI startup. She’s 23 and lives in New York Metropolis.
In Might, I left Google to go all-in on constructing my AI startup.
Total, I actually loved my expertise at Google. I used to be studying every single day and assembly quite a lot of good individuals from numerous backgrounds.
However at a Massive Tech firm, you are one piece of a really giant machine, and I craved the power to make selections, transfer quick, and see the direct outcomes of my work.
On high of that, the AI instruments out there to builders proper now are in contrast to something we have had earlier than. I had a robust conviction round a particular thought, and I did not need to look again and need I had taken the shot when the timing was this good.
Leaving Google was a monetary danger, however I’ve all the time believed that should you really feel a robust sufficient pull towards one thing, you need to be keen to stroll away from good in pursuit of one thing that may very well be nice. Monetary safety is comfy, however it may also be a lure.
The scarier model of this choice wasn’t leaving Google. It was staying and all the time questioning what might have been.
Massive Tech not felt just like the protected alternative
Taylor M. LaSane
Taylor M. LaSane labored at Google for greater than 10 years earlier than leaving her transformation supervisor function final October to give attention to her profession teaching enterprise full-time. She’s in her early 30s and lives in Atlanta.
“Massive Tech layoffs are taking place in all places, so it wasn’t like staying there was essentially any extra steady than leaving.”
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Google confirmed me how far forward AI had develop into
Candice Bryant
Candice Bryant labored as an inner communications supervisor at Google till final October, when she resigned to give attention to impartial consulting and constructing AI-related merchandise.
I labored with Google’s search group through the early days of the generative AI growth, after ChatGPT launched and earlier than Gemini was launched.
After I first began seeing Google’s AI instruments come on-line, I used to be mesmerized by the know-how. I bear in mind seeing capabilities like NotebookLM’s capacity to show notes right into a podcast and considering, “That is going to vary the whole lot.”
However whilst I noticed the potential of those instruments, I noticed that just about no one in my life was utilizing AI simply but.
It dawned on me {that a} highly effective know-how no one understands or makes use of is not going to remodel something. I got here to imagine the actual hole wasn’t between Silicon Valley and policymakers — it was between Silicon Valley and everybody else. I more and more felt I might have a much bigger influence serving to individuals perceive AI from exterior Google than from inside it.
That is why I in the end determined to go away Google and pursue that mission independently.
I felt unseen at Google
Joslyn Orgill
Joslyn Orgill labored as a knowledge engineer at Google till August 2025, when she left to pursue a Ph.D. in pc science. She’s in her early 30s and lives in Illinois.
“I wished extra out of my profession and my life — one thing that I used to be extra obsessed with than what I might obtain at a giant firm like Google.”
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Learn extra about individuals who’ve discovered themselves at a company crossroads
I left Google to run for Congress
Bushra Amiwala
Bushra Amiwala labored at Google for about 5 years earlier than leaving her account supervisor function final 12 months to run for Congress. Amiwala, who positioned sixth in Illinois’ Democratic major for the seat, is in her late 20s and lives within the Chicago space.
“Do I run for this seat and stop my job, or do I keep at Google and by no means attempt?”
Learn the complete story right here.
Have a narrative to share about working in tech? Attain reporter Jacob Zinkula by way of e-mail at jzinkula@businessinsider.com, or by way of Sign at jzinkula.29.