In a sweeping reorganization, Google has announced that Dave Burke, the long-serving VP of Engineering for Android, is transitioning into an advisory role. This move is part of a broader overhaul within Google’s newly merged Platforms & Devices team, aimed at streamlining operations and accelerating innovation.
Back in April, Google merged its Platforms & Ecosystems division with its Devices & Services division, creating a unified Platforms & Devices team. This strategic restructuring is designed to enhance efficiency and foster more rapid technological advancements within the company. As a result, Burke, who has been with Google since 2007 and has led Android engineering since 2014, will now explore opportunities in artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology.
Burke expressed his gratitude for the 14 years he dedicated to leading the Android engineering team in an internal email. He highlighted the profound impact of their collective work and shared his enthusiasm for AI’s potential, particularly in accelerating drug discovery and addressing challenging medical conditions like pediatric cancer. Burke also mentioned collaborating closely with Google CEO Sundar Pichai to identify roles within Alphabet that align with his new focus areas.
This reorganization also sees Sameer Samat elevated to President of the Android Ecosystem. Samat, who returned to Google in 2016, has been a prominent figure at the company’s annual I/O developer conference alongside Burke. The merger of operating systems (Android and Chrome) and hardware (Pixel, Nest, and Fitbit) aims to turbocharge these ecosystems and expedite decision-making processes within Google.
Leading this transition is Rick Osterloh, head of the Platforms & Devices division. Osterloh replaced Hiroshi Lockheimer, who has taken on a new role within Google. Earlier this year, Google’s hardware division adopted a functional organization model, ensuring cohesive engineering efforts across products like Pixel, Nest, and Fitbit.
As part of the announcement, Google revealed that ChromeOS will now be developed using large portions of the Android stack, signaling a deeper integration of their operating systems. This development underscores Google’s commitment to leveraging AI and on-device intelligence to enhance its products.
CEO Sundar Pichai emphasized that the reorganization aims to bring the best innovations to partners more quickly and enhance the synergy between the Android and Chrome ecosystems. The integration of AI and computational photography from Google Research teams into the new Platforms & Devices team is a testament to this vision.
This strategic shift marks a new chapter for Google’s technological endeavors, with a renewed focus on innovation, speed, and collaborative development across its diverse product lines. As Burke transitions to his new advisory role, his legacy of contributions will continue to influence the evolution of Android and the broader Google ecosystem.