At a year-end strategy meeting, Google CEO Sundar Pichai admitted that the AI models driving Google Gemini lag behind OpenAI and ChatGPT. However, he assured a significant push in 2025 to surpass its competitors, as CNBC reported. Pichai's directive transcends normal corporate enthusiasm, declaring that Google will not fall further behind in a race it once dominated. Google's vast resources and infrastructure provide a solid chance to lead in a year, mainly because the company is now proactive and not relying on past successes since the early 2000s. “In history, you don’t always need to be first, but you have to execute well and really be the best in class as a product, ” Pichai emphasized. “I think that’s what 2025 is all about. ” Pichai's call to action underscores the pressure on the company. While Gemini is hailed as Google’s great AI hope, it has not yet met expectations. ChatGPT has become synonymous with AI, whereas Gemini remains the eager understudy. Although Pichai claims Gemini 1. 5 surpasses GPT in technical ability, public perception is crucial. If users associate "AI" with ChatGPT instead of Google, its dominant position is at risk. Despite Pichai’s point about not always needing to be first, Google’s sluggish start could undermine its innovator status. Meta and Apple are also gaining momentum. Meta is investing heavily in AI, introducing the Meta AI assistant across its platforms and hardware like AI-enhanced Ray-Ban glasses and the Orion headset.

While Meta’s AI efforts are substantial, its vast reach may hinder a cohesive strategy compared to Google’s Gemini plans. Apple, though slow initially, has made substantial strides in integrating AI into its products. Apple has developed AI internally and collaborated with others like OpenAI, preserving its unique user experience with Siri and other services. Apple’s cautious yet strategic approach to AI, if integrated into its ecosystem, could redefine AI for consumers. Winning the AI race means more than prestige; it could set the standards for the next decade. Google’s goal of making Gemini a universal assistant could be key to its future success. “I think 2025 will be critical, ” Pichai stated. “It’s really important we internalize the urgency of this moment, and need to move faster as a company. The stakes are high. These are disruptive moments. In 2025, we need to be relentlessly focused on unlocking the benefits of this technology and solve real user problems. ”