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In just a few months, Google has transformed its position in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), once lagging behind, into an undisputed leadership. This rapid transformation is attributed to the decisive influence of Josh Woodward, an executive whose hard work has propelled the Gemini application and other innovations to the heart of Google’s strategy.
The 3 must-know facts
Since joining Google in 2009, Josh Woodward has gradually climbed the ranks to become a major player within the company. In 2022, he took the helm of Google Labs, a laboratory dedicated to experimental projects and products in development. His appointment as head of the Gemini application in 2025 marked a decisive turning point for Google in the field of AI.
Upon taking office, Josh Woodward inherited a Gemini application perceived more as a technological demonstration than as a product for the general public. He then set out to make it a truly usable and integrated tool, with the goal of making it accessible and understandable to all. This strategy paid off, with massive adoption of Gemini, which now claims 650 million monthly users.
At the same time, AI Overviews, the generative AI feature integrated into Search, saw its usage explode, reaching over 2 billion monthly users. This progression highlights Woodward’s ability to transform technological innovations into concrete and useful products.
Josh Woodward not only transformed products, but he also skillfully navigated the internal workings of Google. He managed to bypass often hindering bureaucracy, allowing teams to access necessary resources more quickly, such as in-house TPUs. Additionally, he innovated by using Discord to gather user feedback, a first for the company accustomed to its own tools.
Under Woodward’s leadership, the NotebookLM project, initially an internal experiment, evolved into a sophisticated AI capable of analyzing documents, producing summaries, and extracting ideas while systematically citing its sources. This project is emblematic of Woodward’s approach, which advocates for useful and user-centered AI.
Josh Woodward, with his pragmatic and user-oriented approach, has redefined how Google develops and integrates artificial intelligence into its products. His influence is felt far beyond Gemini, with innovations that continue to position Google as a leader in the field of AI. His journey at Google, from his beginnings in 2009 to his current position, illustrates a career marked by vision and execution.