Nobel prize-winning AI researcher John Jumper leaves Google DeepMind for Anthropic

The battle for elite AI talent just claimed another major name.

John Jumper, the Nobel Prize-winning researcher behind AlphaFold, announced Friday that he is leaving Google DeepMind after nearly nine years to join AI startup Anthropic. His departure marks one of the most significant talent moves in artificial intelligence this year and comes at a time when leading AI companies are competing fiercely for the scientists shaping the next generation of AI systems.

Jumper, who shared the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, helped lead the development of AlphaFold, the groundbreaking AI system that predicted the structure of more than 200 million proteins. The achievement transformed biological research by giving scientists a powerful new tool for studying diseases, drug discovery, and the fundamental building blocks of life.

“After nearly 9 years, I have decided to leave Google DeepMind and join Anthropic (after taking some time to recharge). I am incredibly grateful for my time at GDM,” Jumper wrote in a post on X.

A bit of news: After nearly 9 years, I have decided to leave Google DeepMind and join Anthropic (after taking some time to recharge). I am incredibly grateful for my time at GDM. @demishassabis took a real chance letting me lead the AlphaFold team just six months after finishing…

— John Jumper (@JohnJumperSci) June 19, 2026

He reflected on his time at DeepMind, crediting Hassabis and the broader team for shaping his career:

“@demishassabis took a real chance letting me lead the AlphaFold team just six months after finishing my PhD, and the entire GDM team taught me so much about how to do great science. GDM is a special place, and I’ll still be excited to hear about what amazing things they discover next.”

The AI Talent War Claims Another Star: Nobel Winner John Jumper Leaves Google DeepMind for Anthropic

The move adds to a growing list of high-profile departures from Google as competition among AI companies intensifies. Tech giants such as Google and Meta are competing directly with startups, including Anthropic and OpenAI, for a relatively small pool of researchers capable of pushing the frontiers of AI.

Jumper’s exit follows another notable departure from Google’s AI ranks. Just days earlier, Noam Shazeer, a vice president of engineering at Google and co-lead of the Gemini AI models, announced plans to leave the company and join OpenAI, according to previous reports.

For Anthropic, landing a researcher of Jumper’s stature represents a major addition. The startup has become one of the leading challengers to OpenAI and Google in the race to build advanced AI systems. Anthropic has attracted billions of dollars in funding and continues to expand its influence across enterprise AI, scientific research, and government partnerships.

The company is scheduled to host a science-focused event on June 30. Anthropic has not publicly disclosed what role Jumper will take within the company and has not immediately commented on Reuters’ request for additional details.

DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis publicly praised Jumper’s contributions following the announcement.

“What we achieved with AlphaFold changed the world and showed the field what was possible with AI for science and medicine, lighting the way for how AI can benefit humanity,” Hassabis wrote in response.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Jumper currently serves as a Vice President and Engineering Fellow at Google DeepMind. His departure closes a chapter that helped establish DeepMind as a leader in applying AI to scientific discovery.

Google DeepMind acknowledged his exit in a statement.

“We are grateful for John’s significant contributions to Google DeepMind’s work in advancing science and AI. We wish him well in his next chapter,” a company spokesperson told Reuters.

The significance of Jumper’s move extends beyond a single hiring decision. It highlights how scientific talent has become one of the most contested assets in AI. As companies race to build more capable models and apply them to fields ranging from medicine to biology, researchers with a track record of breakthrough discoveries are becoming as valuable as the technology itself.