In a surprising leadership shake-up, Google has appointed Josh Woodward, head of NotebookLM and VP at Google Labs, as the new leader of the Gemini app, replacing longtime executive Sissie Hsaio.
The move, confirmed by Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis in a company memo, signals a major shift in direction for Gemini — Google’s flagship conversational AI, and its answer to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Why the Change?
According to Hassabis, the change was made to “sharpen our focus on the next evolution of the Gemini app.” Hsaio, who played a key role in the launch of Bard (now Gemini), is taking a short break before transitioning into a new, unspecified role at Google.
Hsaio had been with Google since 2006, shaping both product and AI strategies over the years.
Who Is Josh Woodward?
Woodward is a rising star in Google’s AI division. He previously led the NotebookLM project — Google’s AI-powered research and note-taking tool — which recently gained attention for:
- Summarizing documents and research papers
- Organizing notes
- Even generating podcast content using AI
With his background in AI usability and productivity, Woodward brings a user-first, creative mindset to Gemini — and he won’t be leaving Google Labs. He will continue overseeing NotebookLM and other experimental AI tools, keeping Gemini closely aligned with Google’s long-term innovation goals.
What’s Next for the Gemini App?
While Google hasn’t revealed specific product updates yet, the leadership change hints at exciting developments on the horizon. Here are some likely directions:
Deeper AI Integration Across Google Products
Expect tighter connections between Gemini and:
- Search
- Google Assistant
- Docs, Sheets, and Gmail
Podcasting & Audio Tools
Woodward’s experience with AI-generated podcasting in NotebookLM could migrate into Gemini, introducing voice-based content creation tools.
Stronger Multimodal Features
Following trends in AI, Gemini may enhance its ability to process and generate:
- Text
- Images
- Audio
- Possibly even video
More Personalized Experiences
With Google pushing hard on personalization, Gemini could soon offer custom knowledge assistants, context-aware answers, and workspace-specific agents.
The Gemini app leadership change is more than a staffing update — it’s a sign that Google is gearing up to compete more aggressively in the AI race. With Josh Woodward at the helm, expect a stronger focus on practical, creator-friendly tools, smarter integration, and potentially groundbreaking AI features that go well beyond chat.
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