SAN FRANCISCO, March 7 (Reuters) - Google has been

touting the myriad innovations in the first building wholly

designed and built by the web giant, even moving workers in to

focus on its highest-profile project: generative artificial

intelligence. But, some say they wish the innovations had

included decent Wi-Fi.

The "Bay View" building, located on the Alphabet

unit's Mountain View, California, headquarters, has been plagued

for months by inoperable or, at best, spotty Wi-Fi, according to

six people familiar with the matter.

Its recliner-laden collaborative workspaces do not work well

for teams carting around laptops, since workers must plug into

ethernet cables at their desks to get consistent internet

service. Some make do by using their phones as hotspots.

The company promoted the new building and surrounding campus

in a 229-page glossy book highlighting its cutting-edge

features, such as "Googley interiors" and "an environment where

everyone has the tools they need to be successful."

But, a Google spokeswoman acknowledged, "we've had Wi-Fi

connectivity issues in Bay View." She said Google "made several

improvements to address the issue," and the company hoped to

have a fix in coming weeks.

According to one AI engineer assigned to the building, which

also houses members of the advertising team, the wonky Wi-Fi has

been no help for Google pushing a three day per week

return-to-office mandate.

"You'd think the world's leading internet company would have

worked this out," he said. Like others, he spoke to Reuters on

the condition of anonymity because Google has not authorized

them to talk about work conditions.

Managers have encouraged workers to stroll outside or sit at

the adjoining cafe where the Wi-Fi signal is stronger. Some were

issued new laptops recently with more powerful Wi-Fi chips.

Google has not publicly disclosed the reasons for the

Wi-Fi problems, but workers say the 600,000-square-foot

building's swooping, wave-like rooftop swallows broadband like

the Bermuda Triangle.

Beneath that oceanic roof, Google employees are racing to

roll out the latest versions of the advanced artificial

intelligence software known as Gemini, a key to Google's future.

Such AI has become a Silicon Valley sensation following the

broad release of ChatGPT in late 2022.

Asked by Reuters if the campus has ample Wi-Fi, Gemini

appeared cautiously optimistic. "It is highly likely that the

Bay View campus has Wi-Fi," the software replied.

"As the headquarters of a major tech company, Google, it

would be surprising if it did not."