Google pays couch potatoes

Are you ready for some insider AI news? AI is transforming the workplace, and self-driving taxis are spying on people. Let’s explore it all together! 👀

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GOOGLE PAYS PEOPLE TO SIT AT HOME 🛋️

Get a job at Google. If you’re smart enough, they will pay you to do nothing! 🙃

What’s up? Some Google AI employees are being paid to stay home and not work.

Why? According to Business Insider, Google’s AI arm, DeepMind, is using strict contracts that block certain employees in the U.K. from joining competitors like Microsoft or OpenAI. Even if they’ve resigned or want to leave, because of their contracts, they’re blocked from immediately joining a tech competitor. These contracts are called noncompete agreements, and they can last up to a year. During that time, instead of letting them leave and take their expertise elsewhere, Google is still paying them—essentially putting them on a kind of paid time off. They’re not allowed to work for competitors, and in many cases, not allowed to work at all in AI. While Google says it uses these contracts selectively, some workers say it’s frustrating to sit on the sidelines while the AI world moves forward.

Why is this significant? Big tech companies like Google, OpenAI, and Microsoft are racing to lead in AI, and these agreements show that top talent is a hot commodity. Google is trying to keep its edge by locking people in, even if that means paying them to do nothing.

SHOPIFY TREATS AI AS ANOTHER EMPLOYEE 🦾

Did you get the memo? AI is taking over the workplace. 😬

What’s going on? In a leaked memo (above), CEO Tobi Lütke told employees they must demonstrate that a task can’t be done with AI before asking for more staff or resources.

Want the details? Lütke said using AI is now a core expectation at Shopify. Employees are encouraged to treat AI like a team member, and their ability to integrate it into daily work will even affect performance reviews. It’s worth noting that the company has also introduced its own AI tools, such as Sidekick and Shopify Magic, to support merchants.

Why does this matter? This shows how AI is reshaping workplace norms, not just products. For many workers, it means mastering AI tools is no longer optional—it’s integral to the future success of many companies. If AI is treated as a valuable part of the workforce, it raises questions about whether it deserves certain rights that were once unique to humans.

IS WAYMO SPYING ON RIDERS? 🚗

Q: What has four wheels and flies?

A: A garbage truck. 🪰

What’s going on? According to a draft privacy policy uncovered by researcher Jane Manchun Wong (above), Waymo is working on plans to use data from inside its robotaxis—including video tied to rider identities—to train generative AI models.

How would this work? The unreleased policy shows Waymo may soon use interior camera footage and rider data for AI training and targeted advertising. While Waymo already collects personal data to improve services, the inclusion of video footage tied to individual identities introduces a new layer of sensitivity. The feature is still in development and won’t change the official privacy policy, and Waymo says it will give riders the chance to opt out of having their personal information used in AI training.

Why should you care? If implemented, this could raise big questions about privacy in the era of autonomous vehicles. As robotaxis become more common, what happens inside the car could become part of a company’s AI pipeline—blurring the line between service and surveillance.

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