Google reportedly offered a staggering 300% salary increase to dissuade an employee from joining an AI startup, Perplexity AI. The revelation came from Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity AI, during a recent discussion on the Big Technology Podcast.

Srinivas disclosed that the employee, originally from Google’s search team with no direct involvement in AI projects, received the unprecedented salary hike upon expressing intentions to switch to Perplexity AI. This incident underscores the lengths to which major tech firms are willing to go to retain their employees in the face of increasing demand and competition.

Watch the podcast video here:

“The moment he told them he’s going to join us, they quadrupled his offer” – Perplexity CEO @AravSrinivas on recruiting from Google (k, here’s the video) pic.twitter.com/HRhrLNPrHJ

— Alex Kantrowitz (@Kantrowitz) February 16, 2024

This revelation comes amidst a wave of layoffs across the tech industry. Google, in particular, has announced significant workforce reductions, with CEO Sundar Pichai cautioning employees about forthcoming job cuts necessary to reallocate resources for strategic investments. Despite these layoffs, the company appears resolute in retaining key personnel.

According to reports, Google has already laid off over a thousand employees across various departments since the beginning of the year, part of a broader plan to cut approximately 12,000 jobs, representing 6% of its global workforce. Pichai emphasized the necessity of making “tough choices” to facilitate future growth initiatives in an internal memo to Google employees.

The timing of such drastic measures to retain talent amidst layoffs raises questions about the underlying motivations and pressures within the tech industry. While companies like Google strive to maintain their competitive edge by retaining top talent, employees face uncertainty amid ongoing restructuring efforts.

Srinivas’s account of Google’s extraordinary counteroffer sheds light on the dynamic landscape of talent acquisition and retention in the tech sector. It underscores the strategic importance of skilled professionals and the lengths companies are willing to go to retain them, even in challenging economic times.

As the tech industry continues to evolve, such incidents offer valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of talent retention strategies and the broader implications for both companies and employees navigating an increasingly competitive landscape.