Imagine this: You're trying to hire a super smart person for your cool new tech project, but then Google swoops in and says, "Hey, we'll pay you four times more to stay with us." That's exactly what happened to the boss of Perplexity AI, Aravind Srinivas.
In a recent podcast named 'Big Technology', Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas said that he once tried to hire a Google employee. However, the Sundar Pichai-led company retained him by offering the four times of his salary.
The podcast host Alex Kantrowitz took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a video from his podcast where the Perplexity AI CEO shares this particular experience.
“‘The moment he told them he's going to join us, they quadrupled his offer’ - Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas on recruiting from Google (k, here's the video),” Kantrowitz wrote sharing the video that shows him conversing with Srinivas.
In the video, Srinivas said, “There was one amazing candidate that I tried to recruit from Google. This candidate used to work in the… I mean he still works there… like in the Google search team, it’s not with the AI people. And, the moment he told them that he is gonna join us, they quadrupled his offer".
Listen to my pod with @AravSrinivas https://t.co/3JPT90UbHh
— Alex Kantrowitz (@Kantrowitz) February 15, 2024
Watch the video below
"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
Netizens reactions
While Srinivas' experience wasn't unique, netizens found the story quite intriguing, sparking lively discussions and reactions on X.
"He is probably exaggerating, they quadrupled offer of a search pa eng!! Unless the eng is L9+ AND has significant patents/work in search/kr, I don't see why Google will quadruple salaries. There is no lack of quality L6s and L7s at google. Goog is stingy with salaries," a user named gemeine holly wrote.
He is probably exaggerating, they quadrupled offer of a search pa eng!!
— gemeine holly (@playermahesh) February 16, 2024
Unless the eng is L9+ AND has significant patents/work in search/kr, I don't see why Google will quadruple salaries. There is no lack of quality L6s and L7s at google. Goog is stingy with salaries.
Doesn't sound desperate on Alphabets part. Seems real sustainable.
— StockPursuit (@Stock_Pursuit) February 16, 2024
Google is not allowing it anymore . No more bullies. No more Mr nice guy.
— Ali Armani (@_AliArmani_) February 16, 2024
They were like, we were the main contributors to AI research and you startups are coming for our talents. let’s match offers now!
This is an example when a company knows what it’s core competency is and fights tooth and nail to keep that competency.
— Ben (@balaji_4799) February 16, 2024