Google appoints Prabhakar Raghavan as Chief Technologist to lead AI innovation |

NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT

Atlanta, GA, October 22, 2024: In a significant leadership transition at Google, Prabhakar Raghavan has been appointed Chief Technologist, marking a pivotal moment in the company’s drive toward AI innovation. The announcement, made in a blog post by CEO Sundar Pichai, highlighted Raghavan’s remarkable 12-year journey at the tech giant, where he led transformative initiatives across Google’s research, workspace, and Knowledge & Information (K&I) divisions.

Pichai emphasized that Raghavan’s return to his computer science roots in this new role will focus on providing technical direction and fostering a culture of technological excellence across Google. “Prabhakar has decided it’s time to make a big leap in his own career… He’ll partner closely with me and Google leads to provide technical direction and leadership,” Pichai noted.

Raghavan’s tenure at Google has been defined by major contributions, including leading the team behind Gmail’s AI-powered features like Smart Reply and Smart Compose. Under his leadership, Gmail and Google Drive surpassed 1 billion users. His work in the K&I division has further solidified Google’s position as a leader in AI-powered services, with advancements such as AI Overviews in Search, immersive view in Maps, and virtual try-on in Shopping.

As Chief Technologist, Raghavan will play a key role in shaping Google’s AI future, as the company continues its efforts to integrate AI across its wide range of products. This move comes amid broader structural changes at Google, which include the consolidation of AI-driven consumer experiences, such as the Gemini app, under Google DeepMind.

Nick Fox, a seasoned Google executive and long-time collaborator of Raghavan, will take over leadership of K&I as Senior Vice President. Pichai praised Fox for his instrumental role in shaping Google’s AI product roadmap and for his leadership across various teams, including Search, Ads, and Shopping.

This transition signals Google’s commitment to staying at the forefront of AI development while continuing to streamline its organizational structure to drive innovation and enhance user experience. With Raghavan’s technical expertise and Fox’s leadership in K&I, the company is well-positioned to advance its AI agenda during a time of rapid technological evolution.

Cover photo courtesy: Wikimedia

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