AIToday
Large Language ModelsAI Business & IndustryDIGITIMES AsiaPublished: Aug 11, 2026, 13:00 JST2 min read

Google elevates DeepMind head as Gemini 3.5 Pro delays mount

Google elevates DeepMind head as Gemini 3.5 Pro delays mount

Key takeaway

  • Google has promoted Koray Kavukcuoglu to lead DeepMind operations, AI research, and the Gemini team, responding to mounting delays in Gemini 3.5 Pro that have drawn scrutiny to its AI strategy.

  • The move underscores Google's shift toward faster execution to compete with OpenAI and Anthropic.

3 Key Points

  1. What happened

    Google has promoted Koray Kavukcuoglu to oversee DeepMind operations, AI research, and the Gemini team, in response to repeated delays affecting Gemini 3.5 Pro.

  2. Why it matters

    The move signals Google is shifting focus from research alone to faster execution, as it struggles to keep pace with OpenAI and Anthropic in the competitive AI market.

  3. What to watch

    Kavukcuoglu's appointment reflects internal pressure to accelerate product delivery; whether the restructuring translates to faster Gemini releases will determine Google's ability to maintain AI leadership.

In Depth

Read the full story

Google has elevated Koray Kavukcuoglu to oversee DeepMind operations, AI research, and the Gemini team, consolidating major AI functions under his leadership. The appointment comes amid repeated delays to Gemini 3.5 Pro, which have drawn heightened scrutiny of Google's overall AI strategy and its competitive position relative to OpenAI and Anthropic. The leadership move signals a strategic shift: the company is now emphasizing execution alongside research, suggesting that internal pressure to accelerate product timelines has become a defining factor in Google's organizational decisions. Whether Kavukcuoglu's appointment will translate into faster Gemini releases remains to be seen, but the restructuring indicates Google believes consolidated leadership can bridge the gap between research excellence and market-ready product velocity.

Context & Analysis

Google's promotion of Koray Kavukcuoglu signals a critical shift in how the company is managing its AI ambitions. The article indicates that repeated delays to Gemini 3.5 Pro have intensified external pressure on Google's competitive standing. By consolidating DeepMind operations, AI research, and the Gemini team under a single leader, Google appears to be choosing execution and speed as its priority — a departure from a research-first posture. This restructuring reflects the reality that in the current AI landscape, led by OpenAI and Anthropic, advancing research alone is insufficient; timely product delivery determines market leadership.

FAQ

Who is Koray Kavukcuoglu and what is his new role?
Koray Kavukcuoglu has been elevated to oversee DeepMind operations, AI research, and the Gemini team at Google.
Why is Google making this leadership change now?
The change comes as repeated delays to Gemini 3.5 Pro have drawn scrutiny to Google's AI strategy and its ability to keep pace with OpenAI and Anthropic.
DIGITIMES AsiaRead Original Article

Get the latest Large Language Models news every morning

AI-summarized, only the topics you pick — one digest a day via Email, Slack, or Discord.

Free · takes 30 seconds · unsubscribe anytime

Ask AI

Ask AI anything about this article. Q&As are published on this page for other readers too.

Related Articles

Next articleAnthropic inks $9.1B computing deal with Bitcoin miner Riot Platforms

The AI news that matters, in one minute each morning.

Sign up free