Google is planning significant investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and its Gemini project, targeting 2025 as a pivotal year for transformation. During a strategy meeting on December 18, CEO Sundar Pichai conveyed to employees the intention to scale the consumer segment of Gemini, emphasizing the need for a disruptive approach. This announcement arrives amid ongoing regulatory challenges faced by the tech giant in various regions.
Google CEO Claims “Stakes are High” in 2025
A report from CNBC indicates that Pichai, along with other executives, explored potential opportunities in the AI domain and discussed strategies for enhancing Google’s AI offerings, particularly its proprietary chatbot, Gemini.
The news outlet claims to have acquired audio from the strategy meeting wherein Pichai stated, “The stakes are high. These are disruptive moments. In 2025, we need to be relentlessly focused on unlocking the benefits of this technology and solving real user problems.”
Pichai urged employees to grasp the urgency of the current situation and accelerate the company’s progress. He noted that developing a substantial new business is a primary goal for Google and hinted at the aspiration to position Gemini as a formidable competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
He reportedly mentioned, “With the Gemini app, there is strong momentum, particularly over the last few months. However, we have work to do in 2025 to close the gap and establish a leadership position there as well.” The company aims to make Gemini the 16th Google product to achieve the milestone of 500 million users, with Pichai highlighting that expanding Gemini’s consumer reach is a significant area of focus.
These remarks come at a time when Google is facing heightened regulatory scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions. The ongoing antitrust case from the U.S. Department of Justice revolves around Google’s agreement to pay $20 billion (approximately Rs. 1.7 lakh crores) annually to Apple to maintain its status as the default search engine on iPhones. Furthermore, regulators are pushing for the company to divest its Chrome browser division and have raised concerns about its online advertising practices.
Pichai addressed these regulatory challenges, saying, “It’s not lost on me that we are facing scrutiny across the world. It comes with our size and success. It’s part of a broader trend where tech is now impacting society at scale. So more than ever, during this moment, we have to ensure we don’t get distracted.”
