Google is reshuffling its Google Assistant division to prioritize the Bard AI chat service over its older AI-powered voice assistant, according to an internal memo viewed by CNBC.
The memo suggests that Google is altering its reporting structure to shift more resources to Bard, a ChatGPT competitor.
- The reorganization was detailed in a memo to employees titled "Changes to Assistant and Bard teams."
- The shuffle "heavily prioritizes" Bard over Assistant, the voice-centric virtual assistant rivaling Alexa and Siri that Google introduced in 2016.
- Gizmodo speculates that the changes mean Bard's technology will eventually become integrated into Assistant.
- Google began opening up Bard to some public users last week. It launched a waitlist and a dedicated website, which is available at bard.google.com.
- The memo also announced the departure of Jianchang Mao, Google Assistant VP of engineering, who is leaving for personal reasons.
- His replacement is Peeyush Ranjan, GM and VP of Google Pay and fintech.
- Google Assistant engineering VP Amar Subramanya will now be Bard's lead engineer, replacing Trevor Strohman, who will become Bard's area tech lead.
