Google Gemini App Team Joins DeepMind to Compete More Effectively with OpenAI

In a significant shift last year, Google announced the integration of Google Brain and DeepMind, forming a new entity known as Google DeepMind. This group now spearheads the primary AI initiatives for Google, including the groundbreaking development of foundational models such as Gemini. Recently, Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google and Alphabet, unveiled further organizational updates.

The Gemini app team will now operate within the Google DeepMind organization, which is under the leadership of Demis Hassabis. The Gemini application serves as the consumer access point to the advanced Gemini models developed by DeepMind. This restructuring is designed to enhance collaborative feedback loops, facilitate the swift implementation of new models within the Gemini app, and streamline post-training processes.

In addition to the modifications for the Gemini app team, the Assistant teams, previously focused on devices and home applications, will now be integrated into the Platforms & Devices division. This realignment allows the Assistant teams to work more closely with the product surfaces they are enhancing, ultimately improving the overall user experience.

Sundar Pichai also announced that Prabhakar Raghavan will step into the role of Chief Technologist. In this capacity, he will collaborate with Sundar and other Google leaders to provide technical guidance and promote a culture of technical excellence within the company. Prior to this appointment, Prabhakar served as Senior Vice President at Google, overseeing Knowledge & Information products such as Google Search, News, Assistant, Geo, Ads, Commerce, and Payments. Nick Fox, a veteran at Google, has been designated to lead Knowledge & Information products moving forward.

In his remarks regarding this leadership transition, Sundar Pichai expressed gratitude for Prabhakar’s strong leadership:

“I am incredibly thankful to Prabhakar for the robust foundation and leadership team he’s established within K&I. This includes his outstanding senior leaders and Nick, who is poised to take charge in his new role as SVP of K&I!”

With the repositioning of its Gemini app team under Google DeepMind and the bolstered collaboration between research and product divisions, Google seeks to mirror the agility and pace exhibited by leading AI startups such as OpenAI.

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