Is Sundar Pichai on his way out at Google amid Gemini debacle?

Pressure mounts on the Indian American Alphabet CEO as Gemini fiasco raises doubts about leadership amid fierce competition in the AI sector.

A new blockbuster report by Business Insider suggests that Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet Inc., faces internal pressure to step down amid troubles encountered by the company’s AI project, Gemini. The report indicates growing discontent within the organization regarding Pichai’s leadership following the setbacks experienced by Gemini.

The chatbot, developed in response to Microsoft-funded ChatGPT, was launched in a limited capacity in March 2023. However, it has not captured the imagination of the World Wide Web as Google had hoped. Initially, the company was surprised by the success of ChatGPT, which reportedly caused panic among Google’s leadership.

When Gemini had its stable release last month, social media users found several faults, with many noting that it was generating historically inaccurate images of figures from the past who were people of color. Conservatives were quick to denounce it as “woke.”

“They need to shut Gemini down,” Nate Silver, a polling analyst and author, posted on X. “It is several months away from being ready for prime time. It is astounding that Google released it in this state.”

I was able to replicate this! They need to shut Gemini down. It is several months away from being ready for prime time. It is astounding that Google released it in this state. https://t.co/wCqKE1eLbI pic.twitter.com/dxWavP3oei

— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) February 25, 2024

Gemini, a project designed to revolutionize image generation, triggered a decline in Google’s stocks.

According to Insider, Pichai finds himself ensnared in a maelstrom of doubt and criticism following Gemini’s stumble. The CEO addressed the issue, labeling the mishap as “completely unacceptable.” However, the incident has ignited concerns about Google’s competitiveness in the cutthroat AI arena.

Analysts and industry insiders are now openly questioning Pichai’s leadership, with some advocating for his removal. Among those calling for his head are two influential figures within the tech industry: Ben Thompson and Mark Shmulik.

READ: Society needs to adapt for impact of AI: Sundar Pichai (April 18, 2023)

Thompson, a Taiwan-based analyst who writes the popular Stratechery, has proposed a drastic overhaul within Google, including the possible replacement of key personnel, including Pichai. Mark Shmulik, an internet analyst, echoed these sentiments, casting doubt on the suitability of the current management team to navigate Google through its challenges.

Despite Pichai’s successful stewardship of Google’s growth since assuming the role in 2015, there are mounting concerns about perceived stagnation within the company, exacerbated by recent public missteps.

The Business Insider said former Google employees and industry veterans have now joined the fray, offering their perspectives on Google’s future trajectory and the leadership necessary to overcome its hurdles. As competition in the AI space intensifies and the specter of declining traditional search queries looms, Google faces a critical crossroads.

The pivotal question now reverberates within the tech industry: “If not Pichai, who?” writes the Insider.

As Google confronts this existential dilemma, the world watches closely, acutely aware of the far-reaching implications for one of the most influential players in the tech sphere.

Pichai is one of the highest-paid executives in the tech world. In 2022, he earned $226 million in total compensation.