CNBC's MacKenzie Sigalos joins 'The Exchange' to discuss the price of the AI talent wars as companies in the space continue to poach talent from each other.

Redmond

The release of Open AI's ChatGPT has accelerated the development of artificial intelligence and warnings about its impact on society.

Rise of AI

Microsoft has recruited approximately two dozen staff from Google DeepMind, including a vice president instrumental in developing the Gemini AI model. This move is part of a broader trend of talent competition in the artificial intelligence sector, with Meta also attracting researchers from Alphabet through significant compensation packages and promises of greater autonomy and access to advanced computing resources.

In response, Google has made strategic acquisitions, such as a $2.4 billion deal for Windsurf's CEO and team, and has established a new chief AI architect role. Alphabet continues to invest heavily in AI infrastructure, with capital expenditures expected to exceed $18 billion in the current quarter, partly funded by a recent tax windfall. These developments come as Alphabet prepares to report earnings, with its AI capabilities and talent pipeline under close scrutiny.

Microsoft poaches more Google DeepMind AI talent

Shares of Alphabet are finally on pace to snap that 10-day win streak, a historic one. As we've mentioned, it reports after the bell, and those results come as its AI unit, DeepMind, faces a talent raid from all sides. Mackenzie Segalos has the details in today's Tech Jack. Hi, Mackenzie. Hey, Kelly. So as Alphabet gears up to report earnings after the bell, a slow but steady brain drain is casting a shadow over its AI ambitions. Google's AI unit is now the latest target in the talent wars for top researchers. CNBC has learned that Microsoft has poached two dozen DeepMind staffers, including the VP who helped build Gemini. Remember, Microsoft's AI chief, Mustafa Suleiman, co-founded DeepMind, giving him inside knowledge both of Google's talent pool and how to recruit from it. And then most recently, the information reporting more AI researchers are departing Alphabet for meta. Mark Zuckerberg is really changing the game of both attracting and retaining top talent. We are talking offers with bonuses of $100 million. And that's because these researchers aren't just coders. They are the architects of the LLMs that power consumer chatbots and define a company's edge. So losing them could stall Google's momentum just as AI becomes central to its future. And part of why they're so coveted is the training that they've had on Google's in-house state-of-the-art infrastructure. Zuckerberg said it himself last week. Top talent wants access to massive compute, especially GPUs, and more autonomy. And he's offering them both. But Google is not standing still. It just made a $2.4 billion deal to acquire Windsurf's CEO and team and created a new chief AI architect role last month to help steer strategy, Kelly. Right. Like you said, they're now, I guess, trying to punch back. And we'll get – I don't know if there's anything we can kind of glean from earnings tonight. But it seems – you go back to January, the fact that the search business held in there. You just heard Tim Seymour talking about YouTube. Obviously, we talk about Waymo. I mean, they've got a lot of good storylines. And I think that buys them some time to maybe work in the background and make sure that they have the talent pipeline they think they're going to need for AI. Yeah. Three things that I really have in focus are cloud, CapEx, and then long-term bets like Waymo. So with Alphabet still firmly trailing AWS and Azure, we're now seeing them start to make some moves. So with Google Cloud, they're showing strong signs of momentum, including that deal to host OpenAI's enterprise customers. And that was a notable win given OpenAI's deep ties to Microsoft. You've also got Alphabet spending aggressively on this with CapEx expected to top $18 billion this quarter, which is part of that $75 billion annual push into data centers and AI infrastructure. One interesting note here, that is being funded in part by that $25 billion one-time tax windfall from the one big beautiful bill. So it's kind of this retroactive boost that won't hit earnings, but gives them more room to invest. That's fascinating. Mackenzie, thanks for now. We appreciate it. All this will be top of mind as they report this afternoon. It can maybe set the tone for big tech earnings.

Hulk Hogan, the legendary professional wrestler whose real name was Terry Bollea, died on Thursday at the age of 71, according to World Wrestling Entertainment.

Clearwater

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan dead at the age of 71, WWE says

At least 12 were killed as a Thai-Cambodian border dispute escalated into deadly clashes on Thursday (July 24).

Surin

Thailand bombs Cambodian targets as border clash escalates

According to preliminary data, 43 passengers, including five children, and six crew members were on board.

Tynda

Passenger plane crashes in Russia, killing all 49 people on board

Pro wrestling legend Hulk Hogan has died, World Wrestling Entertainment said in a statement on social media. He was 71. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul has more.

Hulk Hogan dies at 71, WWE says

The Wall Street Journal reports that former Attorney General Pam Bondi told President Trump his name appeared in the Epstein files. The White House denies wrongdoing.

Washington

Report: Trump was briefed on mentions in Epstein files

Columbia University will pay $200 million to resolve federal claims it failed to stop harassment of Jewish students during campus protests. The Trump administration had suspended the school's access to $400 million in funding.

New York

Columbia settles for $200 million over antisemitism claims

Israel issued a statement indicating that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked the Gaza negotiating team to return to Israel for ceasefire talks. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio reports.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israel brings back Gaza negotiating team for ceasefire 'consultations'

Also in the settlement is an agreement to ask prospective international students “questions designed to elicit their reasons for wishing to study in the United States,” and establishes processes to make sure all students are committed to “civil discourse.”

Columbia University to pay more than $220M in deal with Trump

There are several developments in the cases involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the migrant in ICE custody whom the Trump administration wrongly deported. CBS News' Katrina Kaufman reports.

Nashville

Kilmar Abrego Garcia to remain detained following new court orders

Dr. Salvador Plasencia admitted to distributing ketamine to actor Matthew Perry before his 2023 overdose. He is the fourth person to plead guilty in the case and faces up to 40 years in prison.

Los Angeles

Doctor pleads guilty in Matthew Perry death case

While both sides acknowledged progress on humanitarian issues, talks on a full ceasefire remain stalled. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called for "result-oriented negotiations" to end the devastating war.

Istanbul

Ukraine Invasion

Russia and Ukraine conclude third round of peace talks in Istanbul

A passenger plane has crashed in southeastern Russia with up to 49 people onboard. Emergency services say the An-24 aircraft took off from the city of Khabarovsk and was heading to the town of Tynda. Wreckage was found on a mountainside around 15 kilometres from the flight's intended destination.

Russian passenger plane with 49 on board crashes

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy vowed to retain the independence of anti-corruption agencies, bowing to pressure from the first wartime street protests and rare rebukes from European allies.

Kyiv

Zelenskiy to protect anti-corruption agencies, bows to protests

U.S. President Donald Trump's name is among the many appearing in the Epstein files, according to the Wall Street Journal, and he was told as much earlier this year by the U.S. Justice Department.

Trump calls reports he knew his name is in Epstein files ‘fake news’

Dr. Salvador Plasencia, the doctor accused of supplying Matthew Perry with ketamine in the month leading up to his death, has pleaded guilty to four counts  of distribution of ketamine. Plasencia is the fourth of the five people charged in connection with Perry's death to plead guilty.

California

Doctor accused of supplying ketamine to Matthew Perry pleads guilty

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged prisoners following the latest round of talks in Istanbul. The swap, involving dozens of soldiers — some severely wounded and held since the war’s start in 2022 — took place on Wednesday night. While the prisoner exchange marks a rare point of agreement, both delegations remain divided on ceasefire terms.

Ukraine-Russia talks: Delegations remain divided on ceasefire terms

After reviewing the Epstein files, Attorney General Pam Bondi told President Trump his name appears alongside many others, according to a new report in the Wall Street Journal. CNN’s Paula Reid details what we know.

DOJ told Trump his name is among many in Epstein files: Sources

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a bill reducing the autonomy of two Ukrainian anti-corruption bureaus. Ukrainians protested in Lviv and Kyiv, concerned that the bill could lead to more corruption and threaten Ukraine’s chances of entering the European Union.

Ukrainians protest new anti-corruption law

A federal judge on Wednesday ordered Kilmar Abrego Garcia's release as a second judge barred ICE from taking him into custody. CBS News legal reporter Katrina Kaufman has more.

Judge orders Kilmar Abrego Garcia's release

A judge on Wednesday (July 23) sentenced Bryan Kohberger to four life sentences without the possibility of parole after he pleaded guilty to the murders of four University of Idaho students in 2022.

Boise

Bryan Kohberger sentenced to life in prison

House Speaker Mike Johnson is sending lawmakers home early for their August recess amid a continued push to release all files related to Jeffrey Epstein. CBS News' Taurean Small has the latest.

Speaker Johnson sends House lawmakers home early

Venezuela Attorney General Tarek Saab's office will investigate El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele and two other officials for the alleged abuse of Venezuelans who were detained in the Central American country.

Caracas

Venezuela to investigate Bukele for alleged detainee abuse

U.S. President Donald Trump touted new trade agreements with Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines ahead of his looming August 1 global tariff deadline. CBS News' Natalie Brand has the latest from the White House.

Global Tariffs

Trump touts new trade deals with Japan, Indonesia, Philippines

As Bryan Kohberger faces sentencing for the University of Idaho murders, families and investigators are breaking their silence. The gag order has been lifted, prompting emotional impact statements and new revelations from officials involved in the case.

Officials, families break silence as Bryan Kohberger sentencing begins

U.S. President Donald Trump accused former President Barack Obama of "treason" on Tuesday, accusing him, without providing evidence, of leading an effort to falsely tie him to Russia and undermine his 2016 presidential campaign.

Trump accuses Obama of treason in attacks over 2016 Russia probe

President Donald Trump announced a long-awaited trade agreement with Japan on Tuesday night, a framework between the allies and major trading partners that appeared elusive just weeks ago.

Trump announces U.S.-Japan trade deal

The Syrian defense ministry said it was aware of reports of "shocking violations" by people wearing military fatigues in the country's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, and said it would launch an investigation. That came after fighting between Druze militia and government forces sent to the city to quell the unrest has led to hundreds of people killed.

As Suwayda

Syria to probe 'shocking violations' in Sweida after hundreds killed

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee changed its eligibility rules on Monday, effectively barring transgender women from competing in Olympic women's sports. CBS News correspondent Elise Preston has more.

USOPC effectively bars transgender women from women’s sports

President Donald Trump says he's reached a trade deal with Japan that will set tariffs on Japanese imports at 15% and see Japan invest $550 billion into the U.S.

Trump says he's reached trade deal with Japan

Photos from Trump’s 1993 wedding and video footage from 1999 Victoria’s Secret fashion show shed light on the Trump-Epstein relationship.

Microsoft poaches more Google DeepMind AI talent

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