In a bid to enhance its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and deliver top-notch services to users, Google has announced an organizational restructuring. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai revealed the decision to merge hardware and software teams, bringing them together under a unified entity. This restructuring aims to meet the evolving needs of consumers and partners, particularly in the realm of AI.Merging of teamsAccording to an internal communication by Sundar Pichai, Google Research will be integrated with DeepMind teams to propel AI advancements, leveraging the Gemini model. The newly formed unit, termed Platforms & Devices, will encompass teams from Android, Chrome, Pixel, and other company-wide services. Pichai emphasized that this merger will pave the way for the development of higher-quality products and experiences for users and partners. Additionally, he expressed optimism that it will accelerate growth within the Android and Chrome ecosystems.Transition of leadershipRick Osterloh, who previously oversaw Googles hardware endeavors, will lead the newly amalgamated team. Meanwhile, Hiroshi Lockheimer will transition to new projects across Alphabet, and Sameer Samat will assume leadership of the Android ecosystem. The initiative for this merger was proposed by Osterloh and Lockheimer two years ago, with Lockheimer asserting that the timing for the organizational shift feels opportune.Benefits of mergerPreviously, Google operated multiple teams independently developing their own AI models. With the integration of Google Research and DeepMind, all compute-intensive model building will now be centralized under DeepMinds research laboratory. This consolidation is expected to facilitate seamless collaboration and foster the creation of powerful AI models.The streamlined approach will enable teams to access AI models more readily, facilitating the development of intuitive and advanced applications. By pooling their efforts, teams can expedite the delivery of new innovations, leveraging more potent AI models to meet the evolving demands of users and partners.
