Google Merges Android and Chrome Divisions with Hardware Team

Google has announced that it will merge the software division responsible for the Android mobile operating system and the Chrome browser with the hardware division, which includes Pixel smartphones and Fitbit wearable devices. This move is part of a broader plan to extend the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) across the entire company.

In a letter to employees, Google CEO Sundar Pichai emphasized that these changes will enable the company to revitalize the Android and Chrome ecosystems while stimulating innovation.

New Leadership Structure

The two operations will be placed under the supervision of Rick Osterloh, a Google executive who previously oversaw the company's hardware group. This move marks a shift from Google's previous strategy, which isolated Android development from the hardware division to avoid giving its phone designers an unfair advantage over other major smartphone manufacturers using Android, such as Samsung and Motorola, as well as Chinese companies like Oppo and Xiaomi.

AI-Driven Innovation

In recent years, Google has positioned the Pixel as a flagship product to demonstrate what AI can achieve, and has heavily invested in developing features that showcase its potential. This has led to increased integration of AI-powered hardware and software to fuel these features on mobile devices.

In an interview with The Verge, Osterloh highlighted AI as the primary reason for merging the hardware and software engineering teams at Google. He noted that phone technology is becoming increasingly dependent on AI, citing the development of the Pixel camera, which uses AI to enhance nighttime photography and automatically select the best shot from multiple takes.

Accelerating AI Integration

Osterloh added that the team merger is a means for Google to accelerate AI integration into its features even further. He explained that designing the Pixel camera several years ago required in-depth knowledge not only of complex hardware and software systems but also of nascent AI models used for image processing.

By combining the Android and Chrome divisions with the hardware team, Google aims to create a more seamless and AI-driven user experience across its products.