Google announced on Thursday that it will be combining its software division, responsible for Android mobile software and the Chrome browser, with its hardware division, known for Pixel smartphones and Fitbit wearables. This move is part of a broader plan to integrate artificial intelligence more widely throughout the company. In a letter to employees, Google CEO Sundar Pichai stated that the changes will "turbocharge the Android and Chrome ecosystems" and spur innovation.

The decision to merge the software and hardware divisions will place both operations under the oversight of Rick Osterloh, a Google executive who previously oversaw the company's hardware group. This marks a shift from Google's previous strategy of insulating Android development from the hardware division to avoid giving its phone designers an unfair advantage over other major smartphone makers using Android.

However, in recent years Google has been positioning the Pixel as a flagship for demonstrating the potential of AI technology. Osterloh emphasized in an interview with The Verge that AI is the primary reason for bringing together Google's consumer hardware and software engineers. He highlighted the development of the Pixel camera as an example of the integration of AI hardware and software to enhance features such as nighttime photos and image processing.

Chirag Dekate, an analyst with Gartner, commented on Google's strategy, stating that the company aims to dominate the emerging AI economy by infusing AI into consumer and enterprise products. Meanwhile, Hiroshi Lockheimer, the chief of Google's software division, will be starting new projects after being left without a title in the reorganization. Despite these changes, both Lockheimer and Osterloh insisted that the restructuring was not the result of a power struggle.

Google is also reorganizing its AI research and responsibility groups, although these changes are not expected to directly impact consumer products in the immediate future. The company's focus on integrating AI technology into its hardware and software reflects its commitment to leveraging AI for transformative user experiences and innovation.