Leadership Transition in Google's AI Division
Sissie Hsiao, who spearheaded the development of Google's AI chatbot Bard—now rebranded as Gemini—is stepping down from her role effective immediately. A company spokesperson confirmed that Josh Woodward, the current head of Google Labs and the driving force behind NotebookLM, will succeed her. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/google-gemini-executive-sissie-hsiao-step-down-2025-04-02/?utm_source=openai))
Hsiao's Future Plans
Following her departure, Hsiao intends to take a brief hiatus before returning to Google in a new capacity. She has not provided further comments on her decision at this time. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/google-gemini-executive-sissie-hsiao-step-down-2025-04-02/?utm_source=openai))
Strategic Focus on Gemini's Evolution
Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, emphasized that this leadership change aims to enhance the development of the Gemini app. Woodward will continue to oversee Google Labs while guiding the progress of Gemini. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/google-gemini-executive-sissie-hsiao-step-down-2025-04-02/?utm_source=openai))
Integration of Gemini Team into DeepMind
In October 2024, Google integrated the team behind the Gemini app into its AI research lab, DeepMind, to streamline its organizational structure in the competitive generative AI sector. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/google-shifts-gemini-app-team-deepmind-2024-10-17/?utm_source=openai))
About NotebookLM
NotebookLM is a popular tool developed by Google that can transform text into a podcast-like show, showcasing the company's commitment to innovative AI applications. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/google-gemini-executive-sissie-hsiao-step-down-2025-04-02/?utm_source=openai))
This leadership transition underscores Google's ongoing efforts to refine its AI initiatives and maintain a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving technology landscape.
