Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, has shared his vision for the year 2025, aiming to dominate the market with Google’s AI model, Gemini, and surpass competitors. In an internal strategy meeting on December 18, Pichai emphasized that 2025 will be a critical year for Google, focusing on the development of Gemini.
Gemini is Google’s response to the rising dominance of OpenAI, which has set new standards with its AI-powered virtual assistant, ChatGPT. Gemini is designed for a variety of applications, from chatbot integration to specialized tools like Gemini Advanced. The paid version of this AI model helps users with complex projects, offering advanced language understanding and multimodal capabilities to handle text, speech, images, or videos. Currently, Gemini Advanced costs 21.99 euros per month.
Google aims to create innovative products without relying on expensive subscriptions. In comparison, the new Pro version of ChatGPT costs 200 dollars monthly. Pichai stated that Google will not have high-priced models like some competitors. Instead, he wants to make Gemini affordable and accessible to a broad audience. He urged his team, “In 2025, we must relentlessly focus on unlocking the benefits of this technology and solving real user problems.”
Google faces numerous challenges. The meeting occurred at the end of a year that Google described as one of the most challenging in its history. The company is not only facing intense competition but also increased regulatory scrutiny. In August, a court ruled that Google unlawfully held a monopoly in the search market. Consequently, in November, Google was asked to sell its internet browser, Chrome. In another case, the tech giant was accused of unlawfully dominating technology in online ads. The case concluded in September, and the court’s decision is pending.
Currently, Google remains the undisputed world leader in search engines. However, this could change in the future, not only due to legal challenges but also because OpenAI has ambitions in the search engine market. To keep up with competitors, Pichai emphasized the need to work creatively and efficiently despite limited resources. After significant cost reductions and a six percent workforce cut in 2023, the company plans to focus on efficiency in 2025 as well.
For the upcoming year, Google has ambitious plans. According to Pichai, the search engine will introduce several AI features in the first half of the year. Additionally, Project Astra, Google’s experimental version of a universal assistant announced in May, will be updated in the first half of the year. The company is moving at a fast pace, facing substantial competition and pressure to keep up.
Pichai views 2025 as a turning point where investments in AI and innovation must pay off. The tech giant’s awareness of the moment’s significance is a considerable advantage. In Germany, it is often observed how former market leaders lose their edge. “In history, you don’t always have to be the first, but you must do it well and be the best in class as a product,” said the Google CEO in the strategy meeting. “I believe that’s what 2025 is all about.”