Inside Big Tech’s AI reset: Google, Meta, Microsoft and Apple’s chip wars, talent grabs and org shakeups

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From chip wars to talent grabs, Big Tech's AI race is forcing strategy shifts across the industry. The largest players are spending billions, reorganizing teams, and forging high-stakes partnerships to stay competitive.

At The Information, we show you how each giant is fighting to stay relevant—and what it signals for the industry's next phase. Subscribe now to get 25% off for exclusive access to our in-depth reporting.

Google is spending big to keep talent and IP out of rivals' hands, striking a $2.4 billion deal with Windsurf. And with Gemini at its core, Google Cloud is starting to look like a real threat to AWS by dangling exclusive access to DeepMind AI researchers. The company is also hiring staff to pitch its ad tech to agencies, hoping to win back advertisers as tensions with publishers grow.

Meta, by contrast, is in the middle of major changes. In just six months, the company has restructured its AI org four times while hiring researchers from Google and OpenAI. An internal essay also described a "culture of fear" inside the division, with staff wary of taking risks amid shifting priorities. Apple isn't faring much better— recent departures from its foundation models team have forced leaders to rethink how to retain talent.

At Microsoft, the tension runs deeper. AI is making it easier for rivals to peel away long-term customers. Meanwhile, Microsoft and OpenAI are sparring over how to define AGI—a contractual fight that could end Redmond's exclusive access to OpenAI's most advanced tech.

In the world of chip dominance, Google also notched a rare win against Nvidia, persuading OpenAI to train on its custom TPU chips. Microsoft, meanwhile, has stumbled—its Maia AI chip is delayed until 2026 and expected to lag Nvidia's in efficiency.

The AI race isn't just about who builds the flashiest models—it's about which companies can turn talent, chips, and strategy into lasting dominance.

The Information delivers it first—and in depth. For a limited time, save 25% on your first year for coverage that gives you the edge.