Google Shakes Up AI Leadership Amid Gemini Model Delays
Google parent Alphabet announced a leadership overhaul of its AI division, with AI chief Demis Hassabis transitioning from CEO to chairman and chief scientist, amidst delays in releasing the Gemini model. Shares fell 4% after the news, sparking concerns about Google's competitiveness in the AI market.
Key points
- Demis Hassabis, Google DeepMind CEO and Nobel laureate, will become Alphabet's chief scientist and chairman of Google DeepMind.
- Hassabis cited the closeness of artificial general intelligence (AGI) as the reason for his role change.
- Jeff Dean, AI chief, and several Gemini model leaders are leaving the company, including to form a startup.
- Koray Kavukcuoglu, current CTO of Google DeepMind, will take over day-to-day operations as senior VP.
- Shares of Alphabet fell 4% after the announcement, amid concerns about Google's competitiveness in the AI market.
Google parent Alphabet announced a leadership overhaul of its AI division, with AI chief Demis Hassabis transitioning from CEO to chairman and chief scientist. Hassabis, a Nobel laureate, will focus on shaping the future of artificial general intelligence (AGI), an advanced state of AI in which computers become as smart as humans.
The move comes as Google DeepMind faces delays in releasing its flagship Gemini model, sparking investor and industry concerns about the company's competitiveness in the AI market. Shares of Alphabet fell 4% after the announcement.
Hassabis will continue to lead Isomorphic Labs, a pharmaceutical spinoff that uses AI to develop new products. Koray Kavukcuoglu, current CTO of Google DeepMind, will take over day-to-day operations as senior VP and report directly to CEO Sundar Pichai.
The shakeup also includes the departure of Jeff Dean, AI chief, and several Gemini model leaders, including to form a startup called Discovery Loop.
Sources
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