Google, GOOGL, CEO Sundar Pichai, has requested employees to move faster and ‘stay scrappy’ ahead of pivotal year in AI

Google CEO Sundar Pichai and other top executives concluded the year with a pivotal strategy meeting on December 18, focusing on what they see as a crucial year ahead, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence.

During the meeting, audio of which was obtained by CNBC, Pichai emphasized the need for urgency and adaptability. He urged employees to "stay scrappy" in the face of competitive and regulatory pressures while underscoring the transformative potential of AI.

"2025 will be critical," Pichai stated. "It’s essential we internalize the urgency of this moment and accelerate as a company. The stakes are high. These are disruptive times. Next year, we must focus relentlessly on harnessing the benefits of this technology to address real user challenges."

Google did not immediately comment on CNBC's report.

Pichai also acknowledged the increasing legal scrutiny Google faces, following its loss in an antitrust case regarding its search business. The Justice Department is pushing for divestment of the Chrome browser and pursuing additional actions related to the company’s ad technology.

He attributed these pressures to the growing societal impact of technology, urging employees to remain focused: "Now, more than ever, we need to ensure we’re not distracted during this moment."

While Google accelerates its AI initiatives, competitors like OpenAI and Perplexity are also making strides, particularly in integrating AI into search.

A major focus for 2025, Pichai said, will be "building big, new business," particularly through the AI-powered Gemini app. Scaling Gemini for consumers will be the company's primary objective in the coming year.

"Momentum around the Gemini app has been strong, especially in recent months," Pichai noted. "But we have more work to do in 2025 to close the gap and establish ourselves as leaders in this space."

Demis Hassabis, cofounder of Google's DeepMind, expressed confidence in Gemini’s growth, stating the app will be "turbo-charged" and that Google’s AI products will "evolve massively" in the next one to two years.

Additionally, Josh Woodward, head of Google Labs, showcased new innovations such as a coding assistant, an AI-driven note-taking tool, and a multitasking Chrome extension powered by AI, CNBC reported.

Despite mounting competition, Liz Reid, Google’s vice president of search, struck a confident tone at Fortune’s Brainstorm AI conference earlier this month. She dismissed pessimism, emphasizing the importance of leveraging AI to create "effortless" search experiences that drive increased user engagement.