Google's CEO, Sundar Pichai, revealed the company's plan to streamline its artificial intelligence (AI) efforts by consolidating AI teams under the flagship division, Google DeepMind. This strategic move will combine the models, research, and responsible AI teams within the company to operate as one cohesive unit, focused on advancing Google's AI models Gemini and Gemma.
Additionally, Google will merge its employees working on AI technology across Google Research and Google DeepMind as part of a single team. This consolidation will not only bring together expertise but also pool the resources, particularly the expensive computing power required for training and building AI systems, under one division. Alongside AI restructuring, Google is creating a unified Platform and Devices team to integrate hardware, software, and AI projects within the company, including products such as Android, Chrome, search, and photos.
While Google's intensified focus on generative AI to compete with the likes of Microsoft Corp. and OpenAI has been evident, the company has also faced internal changes and cost-cutting measures, resulting in recent job reductions, particularly in departments like digital assistant, hardware, and engineering. Despite these challenges, Google remains committed to launching innovative AI tools and services, as showcased by the introduction of the powerful AI model Gemini 1.5 Pro and a more open large language model to engage with the open-source community.