UK government under pressure to change non-compete rules

The UK government is under pressure to change its non-compete rules. The report notes that in California, one can start a company the day after leaving Google, while in the UK senior AI researchers face one-year garden leave. This contrast is central to the argument made by those seeking a change.

The article names DeepMind as one of the companies imposing garden leave clauses. It states that the restrictions apply to senior AI researchers, who face a one-year waiting period before they can start or join a new company. The report says that in California, an employee leaving a company like Google can immediately start a business. The pressure for change is coming from researchers and startups who argue that these clauses hinder entrepreneurship.

It describes the issue as a live debate in the UK's technology community. The comparison to California's rules is used to illustrate differences in regulatory environments for technology workers. The excerpt provides no further detail on specific proposals or expected timelines. The article presents both the current rules and the arguments for changing them, without indicating a resolution.