Google merges Android and Pixel teams: What it means for users

Google is shaking things up. The company is making a number of structural changes as it aims to “improve velocity and execution across the company.” Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai sent a memo highlighting the changes, which include merging of teams that work on Android with the group responsible for Pixel hardware.

In the memo, Pichai said that the teams that work on Android, Chrome and Chrome OS will be merged with hardware teams that are responsible for the Pixel and Nest devices.

“To truly drive computing forward, we need to do it at the intersection of hardware, software and AI. So we are formalising the collaboration between DSPA and P&E and bringing the teams together in a new PA called Platforms & Devices,” Pichai added.

Rick Osterloh to lead the new team
Current hardware head Rick Osterloh will lead the new team, which will “help us turbocharge the Android and Chrome ecosystems, and bring the best innovations to partners faster – as we did with Circle to Search with Samsung.” Internally, Pichai says, the move will also speed up decision-making.

As for Hiroshi Lockheimer, the head of the OS team, Pichai says he'll be working on other projects for Google parent company Alphabet.

“Hiroshi, who has done so much to grow Android, Chrome, ChromeOS, G1 and Photos, will advise on the transition even as he starts work on some new projects across Alphabet. This includes piloting a new role as executive sponsor of Japan. Hiroshi and I have been discussing these changes for many months, and I’m excited to see him lead across a new set of challenges,” Pichai added.

Google merges DeepMind and Research teams
Meanwhile, Pichai also announced that the DeepMind team will be merged with Google Research team. The teams “focused on computational photography and on-device intelligence will also be moving over to join the new org to bring deep AI expertise across platforms and devices.”