Amid fierce competition in the AI sector, Google’s DeepMind is reportedly paying some employees to refrain from joining rival companies for a year. This practice involves 'aggressive' noncompete agreements that prevent staff from working with competitors while still receiving pay, effectively offering extended paid time off. However, this has led to feelings of isolation among researchers as they miss out on rapid advancements in the field. Unlike the U.S., where the FTC has banned most noncompete clauses, these restrictions are still applicable in the U.K. DeepMind claims to use them selectively.