Inside the Executive Moves Behind Google’s Major AI Reshuffle

 

Alphabet has begun shifting some artificial intelligence teams from Google DeepMind into its broader corporate organization, according to two people familiar with the changes, as the company pushes to strengthen its position in the increasingly competitive AI race.

Google co-founder Sergey Brin has also urged key AI employees to focus intensely on Gemini, the company’s flagship AI model, two sources familiar with his remarks told Reuters. His involvement reflects the growing pressure on Google to accelerate Gemini’s development as competitors continue to make advances.

During an April town hall attended by hundreds of employees, Brin encouraged researchers and engineers at Google DeepMind to move faster, one person familiar with the meeting said. The comments came as rival AI company Anthropic was advancing its Claude model and intensifying competition in the sector.

Google’s Gemini briefly gained an edge over competing models last November, but subsequent releases from Anthropic and OpenAI pushed the company back into a catch-up position. By August, Google had postponed its next major Gemini release by about two months after internal testing showed that the model still lagged competitors in areas including software coding, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Google Reshapes DeepMind Leadership

On August 5, Google announced a major leadership restructuring at Google DeepMind. Demis Hassabis stepped away from day-to-day management and became chairman, while his deputy, Koray Kavukcuoglu, took on greater leadership responsibilities.

The company also lost the two original technical co-leads of Gemini, who left to establish a new startup.

The leadership changes have prompted speculation about Google's strategy in the AI model race. However, interviews with seven people familiar with Gemini’s development suggest that the restructuring is closely connected to Alphabet’s broader effort to improve the performance and commercial impact of its AI models.

The changes also represent a further reduction in DeepMind’s independence. Google has gradually integrated the London-based AI research lab into its broader operations since acquiring it in 2014, seeking to use its technology across more products and generate greater commercial returns.

Some AI Teams Move Into Corporate Google

During an August 6 all-hands meeting, employees were informed that some teams previously operating within Google DeepMind would be transferred into Google's corporate organization, according to two sources familiar with the meeting.

The internal meeting and Brin’s recent remarks have not previously been reported. Other media outlets had earlier reported on potential organizational changes and Brin’s increased focus on coding efforts.

Google declined to comment on questions regarding Brin’s involvement, changes to DeepMind’s structure and concerns among employees.

Hassabis’ Changing Role

Under Hassabis, Google DeepMind pursued a broad range of AI research while simultaneously developing Gemini models that became increasingly important to Alphabet’s commercial strategy.

However, a Reuters special report last year found that Hassabis had resisted some initiatives that could have generated additional revenue for Alphabet or strengthened Google’s position in the AI competition. Hassabis’ supporters at Google previously told Reuters that he remained committed to the company's business objectives and that his emphasis on long-term research did not come at the expense of commercial priorities.

Kavukcuoglu Gains Greater Influence

Google CEO Sundar Pichai expanded Kavukcuoglu’s responsibilities in 2025, when the DeepMind chief technology officer was also appointed Google’s chief AI architect.

His mandate included integrating Gemini more deeply into Google’s products and services. Four people familiar with the organization told Reuters that, in the months that followed, some DeepMind leaders saw their influence decline as Kavukcuoglu emerged as a central decision-maker on Gemini’s development.

A Google spokesperson said Kavukcuoglu will have the final say on major decisions involving DeepMind, underscoring his increasingly influential role as Alphabet reorganizes its AI operations and seeks to accelerate Gemini’s progress.