After 12 years at Google, I have decided it is time to move on

Richard Sproat, a computational linguist and research scientist at Google Japan, announced his departure from the company after 12 years, citing a desire for a more fulfilling professional experience. He plans to join a Tokyo-based AI startup. Sproat expressed dissatisfaction with the recent restructuring at Google, which merged parts of Google Research with DeepMind, leading to a toxic work environment and bureaucratic challenges. He described the process of finding meaningful projects as frustrating, involving lengthy permissions and approvals that ultimately resulted in his team's project being sidelined. Sproat noted that the culture at Google has shifted significantly since he joined, moving from one that encouraged innovation to one that stifles it. He emphasized his intention to spend the remainder of his career contributing to meaningful work rather than navigating corporate bureaucracy. His reflections resonate with others who have experienced similar frustrations in large tech organizations, highlighting a broader concern about the impact of corporate culture on research and innovation.

- Richard Sproat is leaving Google after 12 years to join an AI startup.

- He cited a toxic work environment and bureaucratic challenges as reasons for his departure.

- Sproat expressed a desire to focus on meaningful work in the latter part of his career.

- He noted a significant cultural shift at Google, moving away from innovation.

- His experiences reflect broader concerns about corporate culture in tech companies.