In an unexpected turn of events, Google has reportedly offered an extraordinary 300% salary hike to an employee who was considering a job switch to Perplexity AI. The revelation, shared by Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity AI, during a discussion on the Big Technology Podcast, sheds light on the lengths major tech companies go to in order to retain their talent. Notably, the employee in question was not directly associated with Google’s AI division but was part of the broader ‘search team.’
This revelation comes amidst Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s warning to employees about impending job cuts, emphasizing the need for making ‘tough choices’ to create necessary capacity for future investments. Google has already undergone significant workforce reduction, with over a thousand employees reportedly laid off in various departments since January 10. Pichai had previously announced plans to cut approximately 12,000 jobs, constituting about 6% of the global workforce.
Traditionally, when employees entertain outside job offers, responses from their current employers involve modest counter offers or respectful parting conversations. However, Google’s response in this instance surpassed all expectations, offering a 300% salary hike to the employee, surprising both the employee and industry insiders.
Aravind Srinivas further revealed that despite the lucrative offer from Perplexity AI, the employee chose to stay with Google. The specifics of the AI startup’s initial offer and Google’s counteroffer remain undisclosed, but the magnitude of the response underscores Google’s unwavering commitment to retaining top-tier talent, even amid recent initiatives to reduce its workforce.
The timing of this counteroffer is particularly intriguing, considering Google’s recent workforce reduction measures. This unique approach challenges conventional expectations, highlighting the tech giant’s determination to retain skilled professionals and maintain its competitive edge in the industry.
