Josh Woodward
TL;DR Josh Woodward is a senior Google product leader driving the Gemini app and Google Labs, focused on turning advanced AI research into widely used consumer products.
Josh Woodward by Sora
Josh Woodward is a vice president at Google and one of the key figures shaping the company’s modern AI product strategy. He leads both Google Labs and the Gemini app, placing him at the intersection of experimental AI research and large-scale consumer deployment. His role centers on translating cutting-edge advances in machine learning into practical, usable tools that can reach hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
Woodward joined Google in 2009 and has spent his entire career inside the company, moving through a wide range of product leadership roles. Earlier in his tenure, he helped launch the first generations of Chromebooks, worked on Google’s payments and fintech products, and co-founded the “Next Billion Users” initiative to expand Google’s reach in emerging markets. This background gave him extensive experience shipping consumer products globally.
Before taking on responsibility for the Gemini app, Woodward led Google Labs, an internal group that rapidly prototyped and tested new ideas. Under his leadership, Labs produced several high-profile AI experiments, including NotebookLM, developer-focused AI tooling, and early agent-style systems. In 2025, he was asked to take charge of the Gemini app while retaining his role at Labs, as Google intensified its focus on competing in the fast-moving consumer AI space.
Since stepping into that role, Woodward has pushed Gemini toward faster release cycles and more engaging, consumer-friendly features. His approach emphasizes small, startup-like teams, rapid iteration, and frequent shipping, often working in short development sprints. At the same time, his remit includes managing the risks of deploying AI at a massive scale, such as misinformation, content authenticity, and responsible use.
Appointed vice president overseeing both Google Labs and the Gemini app, centralizing Google’s consumer AI efforts
Helped grow Gemini into one of Google’s flagship AI products, with hundreds of millions of monthly active users
Led the creation and launch of experimental AI products, including NotebookLM and developer-focused AI tools
Played a key role in earlier Google successes such as Chromebooks, Google Pay, and the Next Billion Users initiative
Recognized as one of the most influential people in AI for his ability to turn research into real-world products
Advocated for fast shipping, small teams, and AI systems that enhance human creativity while prioritizing safety
