Inside the Google executive moves that led to its big AI reshuffle

In recent months, Google co-founder Sergey Brin has urged key AI staff to focus on the company's Gemini model as Alphabet strives to outpace rivals, according to two sources familiar with his remarks. At an April town hall, Brin encouraged the Google DeepMind AI lab to accelerate its work, said one person on condition of anonymity.

While Google's Gemini model briefly led the pack in November, new updates from competitors like Anthropic and OpenAI have since put it back in the position of trailing behind. In August, Google delayed the release of the latest version of Gemini by two months due to performance issues in areas such as coding, as reported by two sources familiar with the matter.

On August 5, the Mountain View, California-based tech giant announced a major leadership overhaul of its Google DeepMind AI division, with Brin's deputy, Koray Kavukcuoglu, taking over as chief and Hassabis stepping down to become chair. Four of the sources stated that some leaders at DeepMind felt their influence waning as Kavukcuoglu became the central figure in shaping Gemini's direction.

Despite reassurances from Google leaders about the lab's continued autonomy and focus on long-term issues, concerns have arisen that DeepMind's independence is being eroded by Alphabet.