Wu Yonghui, a veteran AI researcher who spent 17 years at Google, has joined ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok. Wu will lead foundational research in the Seed division and report directly to CEO Liang Rubo, according to sources. Wu began his extensive career at Google in 2008 as a software engineer.
From 2014 to 2023, he worked with Google Brain, the company’s research team focused on machine learning, genomics, and natural language understanding. In September 2023, Wu was promoted to Google Fellow, a senior-level engineering position equivalent to a vice president. His last role at Google was as vice president of research at DeepMind, Google’s AI research lab.
ByteDance established the Seed department in 2023, inspired by the success of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The department focuses on AI-powered developments.
Wu joins ByteDance from Google
Wu will be based in California and head foundational research at Seed, leading AI-related studies and functioning as one of the top executives at ByteDance. This move highlights a broader trend of key figures in the artificial intelligence field being wooed by rival companies.
Industry analysts suggest this could bolster ByteDance’s position in the AI-driven social media market and put increased pressure on competitors. The departure of such a high-profile AI expert raises questions about Google’s ability to retain its top AI talent and continue leading in the field. Google’s AI division has been instrumental in groundbreaking projects like Google Assistant, autonomous driving technology, and healthcare innovations.
As competition intensifies, companies increasingly invest in high-caliber talent to drive advancements in artificial intelligence. ByteDance’s hiring of Wu is seen as a strategic effort to diversify and deepen its technological capabilities, ensuring it remains at the forefront of innovation in the tech industry. ByteDance did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
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