Android’s management workforce at Google is dropping one other key chief. Dave Burke, VP of engineering for Android, is “stepping away” from heading up Android engineering and is “shifting into an advisory place whereas exploring AI / bio initiatives,” he mentioned in an e mail he posted to LinkedIn.
“AI has the potential to play a pivotal position in accelerating drug discovery, with vast applicability, together with in hard-to-treat pediatric cancers, a subject near my coronary heart,” Burke mentioned. “I’m working with Sundar to discover related roles at Alphabet.”
Burke’s departure follows Google’s current transfer to mix its Android and {hardware} groups into a brand new “Platforms and Gadgets” workforce run by Rick Osterloh. As a part of that change, Google introduced that Hiroshi Lockheimer, who had led Android, Chrome, and ChromeOS, could be shifting on to different initiatives, and Sameer Samat would develop into president of the Android ecosystem.
In his e mail, Burke promised extra particulars to come back about what’s subsequent for his former workforce. “It’s essential for me to go away you in good fingers with a effectively thought out succession plan,” he mentioned. “We’ll be following up shortly with some further specifics about this transformation, so please preserve a watch out for that.”
That implies there is perhaps extra modifications on the workforce past Burke leaving, and 9to5Google reported Wednesday that Google’s platforms and gadgets workforce is “present process a reorganization.” Google didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark concerning the reported reorg.
Google is already making strikes to mix items of its ecosystems. On Wednesday, Google introduced that ChromeOS could be developed on parts of the Android tech stack partly in order that it may roll out AI options extra rapidly.