 "Beyond AI, Google is making waves in quantum computing. Just days before the strategy meeting, the company announced a major milestone with its new quantum chip, Willow. Image Credit: Reuters")
Google is gearing up for what it sees as a transformative 2025, with CEO Sundar Pichai urging employees to stay focused and agile. At a December strategy meeting, Pichai and other top executives outlined ambitious plans, placing a heavy emphasis on artificial intelligence and navigating regulatory hurdles.
Calling it a “critical” year, Pichai highlighted the need for urgency and innovation to tackle growing competition and external challenges.
With mounting pressure from rivals like OpenAI and Perplexity entering the search space, Google aims to fortify its leadership in AI. A key focus is scaling the Gemini app, the company’s flagship AI product, for consumers.
According to Demis Hassabis, cofounder of Google’s DeepMind, Gemini is poised for a “turbo charge,” with significant advancements expected over the next two years. Additionally, Josh Woodward of Google Labs showcased new AI-driven tools, including a coding assistant, a note-taking app, and a multitasking Chrome extension, further cementing AI as the backbone of Google’s future strategy.
Facing competition and legal scrutiny
The call to action comes amidst escalating legal challenges. Earlier this year, Google faced an antitrust case over its search business, with the US Justice Department advocating for the divestment of the Chrome browser and tighter regulation of its ad technology. Pichai acknowledged the scrutiny but urged employees to stay undistracted, pointing to the broader societal impact of technology as a catalyst for regulatory action.
Meanwhile, Google’s leadership remains optimistic despite competition. Liz Reid, vice president of search, dismissed pessimistic narratives, emphasising AI’s potential to make search more seamless. Reid pointed out that many users refrain from asking questions simply because they doubt they’ll find answers, an issue AI could address by opening the door to more meaningful queries.
Quantum computing breakthroughs
Beyond AI, Google is making waves in quantum computing. Just days before the strategy meeting, the company announced a major milestone with its new quantum chip, Willow.
The chip outperformed the world’s best supercomputers in advanced testing, marking a leap toward scalable quantum systems. Hartmut Neven, head of Google Quantum AI, called Willow a convincing prototype, stating it paves the way for building highly powerful quantum computers.
What 2025 holds for Google
As 2025 approaches, Google is placing big bets on AI and quantum advancements to maintain its edge. With Gemini driving consumer-focused innovation, breakthroughs like Willow redefining computing, and a focus on navigating regulatory and competitive challenges, Google is setting the stage for a pivotal year.
The tech giant’s success will depend on staying nimble, innovative, and relentless in addressing both opportunities and obstacles in the evolving digital landscape.