Google has hired Koray Kavukcuoglu as their new head of AI. According to a company memo from CEO Sundar Pichai that was reviewed by Semafor, Kavukcuoglu will be in charge of coordinating future AI-powered product development.
Kavukcuoglu, who served as Google DeepMind’s chief technology officer, will become the company’s chief AI architect, a new senior vice president role reporting directly to Pichai.
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Kavukcuoglu is a leading figure in the field of artificial intelligence, and in his new role, his primary mission would be to integrate DeepMind’s cutting-edge models such as Gemini, more efficiently into Google’s products and services. His new role reflects Google’s strategic push to lead in AI development and application across its ecosystem with a strong focus on aligning AI research with product innovation.
Kavukcuoglu holds a PhD in computer science from New York University, where he studied under AI pioneer Yann LeCun. He has contributed to major breakthroughs at DeepMind, including the development of DQN (Deep Q-Networks), IMPALA, and WaveNet, the voice synthesis system used in Google Assistant.
Known for emphasizing the importance of AI safety and responsible deployment, Kavukcuoglu has compared the engineering of AI systems to building bridges and airplanes—where safety is integral from the start. His leadership is expected to play a key role in shaping the future of responsible and impactful AI at Google and beyond.
Kavukcuoglu will “accelerate how we bring our world-leading models into our products, with the goal of more seamless integration, faster iteration, and greater efficiency,” Pichai wrote in the memo.
“We’re entering a new phase of the AI platform shift. It will require us to also shift into a new gear as a company to ensure our products are evolving just as quickly as our models,” Pichai wrote in the memo.
Google has been undergoing broad changes as a company since ChatGPT upended the tech industry. It merged DeepMind, a company it acquired in 2010 with Google Brain, and installed Demis Hassabis, DeepMind’s CEO, at the helm of its AI effort.
Google is rapidly expanding its artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives in 2025. The company is investing heavily, committing around $75 billion to upgrade its AI infrastructure, including expanding data centers and enhancing server capacity. This significant investment aims to meet the increasing demand for AI services and maintain Google’s competitive edge in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
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One of Google’s flagship projects, Gemini, is set to transform the AI experience by replacing Google Assistant on various devices such as smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, headphones, and Android Auto-powered cars. Gemini promises smarter voice interactions, faster responses, and more seamless functionality across these platforms.
Additionally, Google is broadening its AI reach in international markets like India, launching Gemini with support for regional languages and establishing a Google Safety Engineering Centre to focus on security and online safety products tailored for local users. These efforts demonstrate Google’s commitment to making AI more accessible, useful, and safe for a global audience while strengthening its leadership in AI innovation, while also positioning Google as a key player in driving AI adoption and innovation both in India and globally.