According to sources knowledgeable of the matter, Ioannis Antonoglou, a longtime AI researcher who recently departed from DeepMind, may be planning to establish a startup focused on conversational AI chatbots. This move comes amidst a growing number of startups endeavoring to lead the burgeoning field of AI agents, which utilize similar technology to perform intricate tasks, such as flight bookings and competitor research.

Antonoglou, who was based in London, has become the fourth lead developer of Google's Gemini, a substantial language model designed to rival OpenAI, to depart the company since September. Prior to their departures, Gemini boasted a team of 36 lead members. Google has already outlined its plans to launch the flagship version of Gemini later this year.

As OpenAI and Google work on refining the capabilities of conversational AI chatbots like ChatGPT, the race to establish dominance in this sector has intensified. Startups are keen on securing a competitive advantage in this nascent field where AI agents hold the potential for performing complex tasks autonomously, offering significant convenience to users.

The departure of Antonoglou from DeepMind – now a part of Google's AI lab – raises speculation about the motivations behind their decision to leave the company, especially given their expertise in AI research. The launch of an AI startup signals their intentions to leverage their skills and knowledge to build innovative conversational AI chatbots.

With Google's plans to unveil the flagship version of Gemini in the near future, the departure of lead developers raises questions about the potential impact on the project's progress. However, it remains to be seen whether Antonoglou's startup venture will directly compete with Gemini or pursue a different approach in the conversational AI market.

The field of AI agents continues to evolve rapidly, with increased investment and research efforts poured into building advanced chatbot technologies. As startups, corporations, and research labs strive to enhance chatbot capabilities, the landscape of conversational AI is set to witness further disruption in the coming months.