[s3r3nity]

This. Google wants their cake + to eat it to by hiring the best in class Ph.D's with the allure of doing "academic research" but paid a big-tech salary.

Turns out it's mostly PR and buying yourself credibility at this point.

[whywhywhywhy]

Honestly find it confusing how almost everyone from the outside could see that teams reason for existing was PR but the team itself seemed totally oblivious to the fact.

[tempodox]

Upton Sinclair comes to mind: It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it!

[pseudalopex]

You think it's impossible management factions had different agendas? Or researchers didn't expect to spend their whole careers there?