After releasing its most powerful AI model to date, Google is making changes to the Gemini Team. A Semafor’s new report reveals that long-time Googler Sissie Hiao will step down as leader of the Gemini team with immediate effect. Google has appointed Josh Woodward to replace her. He currently leads Google Labs. According to a memo by DeepMind CEO Demis Hazzabis, this change was designed to “sharpen our focus on the next evolution of the Gemini app.” Woodward will continue to lead the Gemini team while still being in charge of Google Labs.
Hsiao, in a memo to employees, says that she’s happy with the “Chapter 1” Bard story and optimistic for Woodward. “Chapter 2.” Hsiao will not be involved in Google AI efforts for now. She’s chosen to take some time before returning to Google in another role.
Hsiao, who has been with Google for 19-years, was given the task of building Google’s 2022 chatbot. Google was in a state of shock after ChatGPT, which used the same transformer architecture Google invented, took the world by rage. The team’s chatbots were initially known as Bard, but they were unified under the Gemini name at the end 2023.
The process has been slow, with Google’s models slowly improving while simultaneously making their way into popular products. Gemini 2.5 Pro is viewed as a turning point in the company. This model, which is still in its experimental phase, has surpassed other models on academic benchmarks as well as in important vibemarks such as LM Arena.
