Ex-DeepMind researcher leaves Big Tech for independent lab

Simon Kohl, a former DeepMind researcher known for his work on medical AI, has left big tech to establish his own independent lab. According to Sifted, he cited the constraints of corporate environments as limiting for frontier research.

This move fits a recent pattern of high-profile exits from major tech firms, where researchers seek more freedom. Last month, we reported on a similar case—a DeepMind alum leaving for research independence—which reflected a wider shift: top talent is increasingly choosing scientific flexibility over corporate backing.

Kohl’s decision raises questions about whether big tech’s research model can keep pace with open-ended exploration. While companies like DeepMind provide funding and infrastructure, their commercial goals may not always align with ambitious, long-term projects. For AI startups and investors, this could create openings for independent labs to become key innovation centers.

The trend also highlights a split between corporate AI and academic or independent research. It’s still uncertain whether these labs can attract enough funding to rival big tech’s scale—or if they’ll need to collaborate with startups to stay viable.

Sources: sifted.eu