Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has reignited the heated debate over remote work, stating that “work from home won’t win in tech.” His remarks, made at the All‑In Summit, have stirred strong reactions across the industry. Schmidt argues that working remotely can stunt the growth of young professionals who depend on in‑person collaboration to pick up key skills. He recalled his early years at Sun Microsystems, where much of his learning came from listening to senior colleagues argue, brainstorm, and solve problems together.
To Schmidt, the physical workspace is more than a place to get tasks done it’s an environment for growth, mentorship, and real-time feedback.
Trade‑offs: Balance vs Competitiveness
While Schmidt says he supports work–life balance, he adds that tech is different from government jobs. He suggested that if you want safety and balance, “that’s why people work for the government.” But in tech, he says, “you’re going to have to make some tradeoffs.”
He contrasted American flexibility with China’s intense work culture (often described as “996” — 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week). Despite this being controversial, Schmidt believes that China’s approach underscores how fierce the global tech race is becoming.
AI Rivalry: U.S. vs China
Schmidt also warned that the U.S. could lose its lead in artificial intelligence to China. He said China is more aggressively applying AI across industries— in apps, robotics, consumer tech—while U.S. policies and export restrictions have slowed some progress.
He sees the remote work debate not as just a workplace issue, but as part of a broader national competition in tech.
A Pattern of Criticism
This isn’t the first time Schmidt has taken aim at remote work. In 2024, speaking at Stanford, he criticized Google’s flexible culture, suggesting it was putting comfort over winning in a tech race against startups like OpenAI and Anthropic.
Final Thoughts
Eric Schmidt’s remarks are a strong pushback against the growing trend of remote work. He frames the issue not only in terms of employee growth and company culture, but as part of an existential battle in technology leadership between nations. The debate continues: can remote setups thrive in a field built on rapid innovation, mentorship, and competition?
