# Gemini’s co-lead is leaving Google to join OpenAI > Source: > Published: 2026-06-18 01:45:00+00:00 VP of engineering at Google and the co-lead of Gemini, Noam Shazeer, has announced he is departing his role to work at OpenAI. Noam Shazeer announced in [a post on Twitter/X](https://x.com/NoamShazeer/status/2067400851438932297) this evening that he would be departing Google to join OpenAI. His new role wasn’t mentioned in the post, but it’s a major change seeing as Shazeer is a co-lead over Gemini and a VP of Engineering at Google, a role he’s been at since August of 2024 according Shazeer’s LinkedIn [profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/noam-shazeer-3b27288/). Prior to his work as a Gemini co-lead, Shazeer worked as a software engineer from 2000 through 2021, acting as the CEO of Character.ai from late 2021 through 2024 when he returned to Google. A[ licensing deal between Google and Character.ai](https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/google-hires-characterai-cofounders-licenses-its-models-information-reports-2024-08-02/#:~:text=%22We%27re%20particularly%20thrilled%20to%20welcome%20back%20Noam%2C%20a%20preeminent%20researcher%20in%20machine%20learning%2C%20who%20is%20joining%20Google%20DeepMind%27s%20research%20team%2C%20along%20with%20a%20small%20number%20of%20his%20colleagues%2C%22%20a%20Google%20spokesperson%20said%20in%20an%20email.) was made that same month. Speaking to * Reuters*, Google said that the company is “grateful for Noam’s meaningful contributions to Google over the years.” **Follow Ben:** [Twitter/X](https://twitter.com/NexusBen), [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@nexusben), [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/nexusben.com), and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/nexusben) *FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.* [More.](https://9to5mac.com/about/#affiliate) [our homepage](http://9to5google.com/)for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on [exclusive stories](https://9to5google.com/feature/exclusive/), [reviews](https://9to5google.com/guides/reviews/), [how-tos](https://9to5google.com/guides/how-to/), and [subscribe to our YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/9to5google)