NotebookLM success story Josh Woodward to head Gemini as Google shifts AI focus to consumer applications

Google’s leadership shake-up in its consumer AI division signals a strategic pivot as the industry evolves beyond foundational models to focus on product development and user experience. The appointment of Josh Woodward to replace Sissie Hsiao as head of Google’s Gemini (formerly Bard) highlights the company’s efforts to maintain competitiveness in an AI landscape where practical applications and consumer-facing tools are becoming increasingly important differentiators.

The big picture: Google is replacing Sissie Hsiao, the leader who spearheaded its consumer AI chatbot efforts, with Josh Woodward, the head of Google Labs, in a move that reflects the changing priorities in AI development.

• Woodward, who oversaw successful products like NotebookLM (which transforms text into podcast-like content), will lead Gemini while maintaining his role at Google Labs.
• The transition comes as the AI industry shifts focus from building underlying models to creating compelling consumer applications that deliver practical value.

What they’re saying: Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis framed the leadership change as part of the company’s effort to “sharpen our focus on the next evolution of the Gemini app.”

• In her departing memo, Hsiao characterized her time leading the team as “chapter 1” of the Bard story and expressed confidence in Woodward taking the helm for “chapter 2.”
• Hsiao indicated she plans to take a “short break” before returning to Google in a different capacity.

Behind the numbers: The leadership change follows recent technical achievements, with Gemini 2.5 reportedly outperforming competitors in AI benchmarks.

• Woodward’s team at Google Labs has established a track record of creating successful consumer AI products, including NotebookLM and Project Mariner.
• Google DeepMind’s multimodal approach to AI development shows promise for future iterations of consumer-facing applications.

Why this matters: The executive shuffle reflects Google’s ongoing effort to maintain relevance in the AI race after initially appearing flat-footed following ChatGPT‘s launch.

• By elevating a leader with proven success in consumer-facing AI applications, Google is signaling its intent to prioritize product development that resonates with everyday users.
• The change demonstrates how quickly priorities are shifting in the AI industry, as companies move from a phase of foundational model development to creating differentiated user experiences.