tech
Google’s new AI boss inherits a race to catch OpenAI and Anthropic
Koray Kavukcuoglu is taking charge of Google DeepMind as it tries to keep Gemini competitive with OpenAI and Anthropic.

TL;DR
- Koray Kavukcuoglu is the new SVP of DeepMind, replacing CEO Demis Hassabis.
- The primary goal is to close the performance gap with OpenAI and Anthropic in AI frontier models.
- Google's focus may shift from academic projects to improving frontier performance and developer toolsets.
- Recent releases from OpenAI and Anthropic have outpaced Google's latest models.
- Coding capabilities are identified as a key area where Google lags behind competitors.
- Hassabis' tenure focused on areas like multi-modal AI and world models, while Kavukcuoglu is expected to drive LLM improvements.
- Kavukcuoglu's appointment suggests a prioritization of execution and product development over deep research.
- Google is consolidating AI leadership, with a continued commitment to its UK presence.
- Despite departures, Google's AI monetization, particularly Gemini Enterprise, is performing well.