Barret Zoph Returns to Google DeepMind After a Detour Through Startups
Barret Zoph is rejoining Google DeepMind as vice president of research, six years and two startups later. He announced his move on Wednesday, arriving shortly after Demis Hassabis stepped down as CEO in a reshuffle that integrated some DeepMind teams into corporate Google.
The journey back to Google is a winding one. Zoph initially left Google Brain, where he spent six years, for OpenAI where he became vice president of research. He then co-founded Thinking Machines Lab with Mira Murati, but both eventually returned to OpenAI. Now, Zoph is back at his starting point, Google DeepMind, where neural architecture search and large-scale model training are part of his expertise.
Google Brain merged with DeepMind in 2023, so while the organization is not exactly the same, the core team remains largely the same. Zoph’s return comes during a period of transition for DeepMind, with leadership changes and shifts towards product development.
The broader trend is one of talent circulation, with key figures moving between labs and contributing to the competitive landscape of AI research. Neither Zoph nor Google has yet provided details on his specific role at DeepMind.