A leaked internal memo to CNBC reveals that Google is reassigning its Assistant engineering VP to focus on the Bard AI chatbot, indicating a possible shift in company priorities. Google has not issued a public statement on the matter.
Sissie Hsiao, VP of Google Assistant’s business unit, informed employees of the reshuffling, announcing Jianchang “JC” Mao’s departure for personal reasons. Mao played a significant role in shaping Google Assistant. Peeyush Ranjan, formerly of Google Pay, will replace Mao. Google Assistant engineering VP Amar Subramanya will now lead Bard AI’s engineering.
The reshuffling suggests potential Bard AI integration into Google Assistant. However, concerns arise about inaccuracies and reliability, as AI-generated text can lead to false information or plagiarism. Integrating Bard AI into the smart home ecosystem may also increase the risk of misinterpreting commands.
The shift towards Bard AI might be seen as a “move fast and break things” approach, which could negatively impact Google Assistant’s usability or even lead to its discontinuation.
