The Google Assistant, Google’s virtual assistant software, is undergoing a leadership shakeup as the company shifts focus to artificial intelligence (AI). Google announced on Monday that it had replaced Google Assistant’s previous leader Scott Huffman with Anjali Sud and shifted other top executives in a move to prioritize Bard AI development.
The Google Assistant was initially released in 2016 as part of Google’s voice search feature and has since gone on to become a popular mobile and home assistant. The software is now available in a variety of languages and supports over 1,500 devices. Google is now looking to take the Assistant to another level by focusing on developing Bard, an AI-driven natural language virtual assistant system.
Anjali Sud, who is the former Vice President of Ads, will now take on the role of VP of Google Assistant. Sud is credited with overseeing the transition of Google Ads from desktop- to mobile-oriented ads, and has been with the company for nearly a decade. This shift signals Google’s increased focus on AI development and the re-design of its virtual assistant system.
Google has also reassigned other top executives to take on roles related to this initiative. Amit Fulay, who was in charge of Hangouts, will now lead consumer messaging and input/output product management. Anindya Ghose, former head of consumer insights, will now be in charge of monetization. Finally, Caeser Sengupta, another senior executive, will lead product, engineering and design at Google Home.
As consumer demand for advanced AI technology increases, Google is realigning its leadership to ensure that the company is well-positioned to take advantage of the opportunity. It is expected that the new leadership structure and focus on developing Bard AI will result in a more sophisticated and advanced virtual assistant technology. Google’s vision to be “the best personal assistant to everyone” is likely to become a reality as the company shifts into AI research and development.
