Outlook Business Desk
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, highlighted the significance of 2025 for the company amid growing competition in artificial intelligence (AI) and regulatory challenges. At a strategy meeting, Pichai emphasized the need for a focused effort on unlocking AI's potential and addressing real user problems.
Google is heavily investing in its Gemini AI model and app as its next major product. The company aims to reach 500 million users with Gemini, making it a key focus for 2025.
Google faces increasing competition in its core search business from AI-powered alternatives, such as OpenAI’s search engine and Perplexity, which recently raised $500 million at a $9 billion valuation. This competition is pushing Google to innovate rapidly.
Pichai acknowledged that Google may not always be the first, but emphasized that executing well and delivering the best-in-class product is crucial for success. He remains optimistic about Google’s position in the AI and search markets.
Google faces significant regulatory challenges, including scrutiny over its search market monopoly and concerns about its Chrome browser and ad tech practices. Pichai acknowledged the global scrutiny the company faces, noting that such challenges come with its size and success.
Pichai emphasized the importance of efficiency while highlighting that constraints foster creativity and stressed that not all challenges are solved by simply increasing headcount. This aligns with Google’s recent cost-cutting efforts and workforce reduction.
Pichai became Google’s CEO on August 10, 2015, after serving as chief product officer. He took the role on October 24, 2015, following the formation of Alphabet Inc. and joined its board in 2017.