Google is eyeing 2025 as a pivotal year, planning to make significant investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and its Gemini platform to challenge the current market landscape. CEO Sundar Pichai conveyed to employees during a strategy meeting on December 18 that the upcoming year will be transformative, with a focus on scaling the consumer aspect of Gemini. This announcement comes amid intensified regulatory scrutiny the company is facing in various nations.
Google CEO Highlights High Stakes for 2025
A report by CNBC reveals that during discussions, Pichai and other executives explored the potential of AI and how Google could leverage it to aggressively expand its AI offerings, including the in-house chatbot Gemini. The publication claims to have obtained audio excerpts from the meeting, where 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 solve real user problems.”
Pichai emphasized the need for employees to “internalise the urgency of this moment” and to accelerate progress within the company. He pointed out that establishing a robust new business is a primary goal for Google, suggesting there is ambition to make Gemini a viable competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
The CEO further noted, “With the Gemini app, there is strong momentum, particularly over the last few months. But we have some work to do in 2025 to close the gap and establish a leadership position there as well.” Google aims for Gemini to become the 16th product in its portfolio to reach 500 million users, with Pichai acknowledging that enhancing Gemini’s consumer accessibility is a critical focus area for the organization.
Notably, these remarks surface during a time when Google’s existing operations are under heightened regulatory examination in several countries. The ongoing antitrust case from the U.S. Department of Justice questions Google’s $20 billion (approximately Rs. 1.7 lakh crore) annual payments to Apple to maintain its status as the default search engine on iPhones. Moreover, officials are pushing for the company to divest its Chrome browser business and have raised concerns about its online advertising practices.
In light of these challenges, Pichai remarked, “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, through this moment, we have to make sure we don’t get distracted.”
