Google repositions Demis Hassabis as chief scientist to compete in AI race

Google announced a leadership restructuring, with Demis Hassabis, founder of DeepMind, taking on the role of Chief Scientist at Alphabet and chair of DeepMind. Jeff Dean, who was the company's longtime chief scientist, is leaving the company. The change occurs at a critical moment, with Google falling behind competitors in generative AI for code. Insiders consulted say the strategic move aims to leverage Hassabis's expertise in fundamental research and long-term innovation, aligned with his track record on projects like AlphaFold. The change represents an attempt to balance short-term commercial pressures with longer-term research goals in the AI space.