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Google co-founder Sergey Brin, has restated his call for longer hours and increased office attendance as Google seeks to stay ahead of rivals in artificial intelligence.
In an internal memo seen by The New York Times, Brin said that Google staff should aim for a 60-hour working week to stay competitive with Microsoft and OpenAI.
The memo reveals Brin’s ongoing belief that extended work commitments are necessary to meet current demands. He emphasized that “60 hours a week is the sweet spot of productivity,” and suggested that employees who underperform can have a negative impact on team morale. “A number of folks work less than 60 hours and a small number put in the bare minimum to get by,” he wrote.
Push for office presence and AI tool adoption
Brin also reiterated his support for in-person work. He encouraged employees to consider being in the office every weekday, highlighting perceived gains in productivity from in-person collaboration.
Although acknowledging the risk of burnout, particularly among developers, Brin also emphasized the importance of leveraging artificial intelligence tools to improve output. He urged staff to use current technologies to become “the most efficient coders and AI scientists in the world.”
His comments come as tech companies double down on stricter workplace expectations. Amazon and Dell have recently increased their return-to-office requirements to five days per week, triggering worker dissatisfaction but reflecting a broader shift in post-pandemic employer strategies.
Echoes of long-hour advocacy in global tech
Brin’s 60-hour benchmark is not an isolated view. Infosys CEO Narayana Murthy has also advocated for longer working hours, suggesting that Indian workers should put in 70-hour weeks to help drive the country’s economic progress.
The discussion around work intensity comes as businesses redefine operational norms in the aftermath of pandemic-era flexibility. The tension between employer demands and employee preferences continues to shape workplace culture, especially in sectors under pressure to deliver on rapid innovation, such as artificial intelligence.
Google’s internal push to increase productivity and in-office presence reflects an urgent need to match the pace of external competition. Brin’s remarks mark another high-profile leadership call for a return to rigorous work routines amid an evolving tech landscape. Most recent surveys on the matter show that worker support for remote or flexible working remains high, with many considering it to be the most desirable workplace benefit.
Kimberly Wright