Subscribe to our newsletter and stay informed
Dave Burke, the longstanding VP of engineering at Android, announced his departure from the role after an impressive 14-year tenure. Despite stepping down from Android, Burke will remain within Alphabet, focusing on exploring innovative "AI/bio" projects within the company.
During his influential career at Android, Burke played a crucial role in several transformative projects, notably overseeing the development of Nexus and Pixel phones, pioneering Chrome for mobile, launching Android TV, and advancing developer tools crucial to the ecosystem.
Burke's decision comes amid significant organizational changes at Alphabet this year. Earlier in January, the company implemented extensive layoffs affecting over 1,000 employees, primarily within its AR hardware division. Subsequently, in April, Google consolidated its hardware and Android teams to emphasize integrating AI across its entire device lineup. This restructuring prompted key executives like Hiroshi Lockheimer, former head of Android, Chrome, and ChromeOS, to explore new roles within the organization. Rick Osterloh, now SVP of devices and services, assumed leadership of the unified division, while Sameer Samat, under Lockheimer's leadership, took charge as president of the Android Ecosystem.
In his announcement on X, Burke expressed his intent to transition into an advisory role as he embarks on his next venture. He elaborated in a heartfelt letter to colleagues, shared on LinkedIn, about his aspiration to leverage AI's potential in accelerating drug discovery. Burke emphasized AI's broad applicability, particularly in addressing challenging pediatric cancers, a cause close to his heart. He disclosed ongoing discussions with Sundar Pichai to explore new opportunities within Alphabet aligned with these interests.
Burke's departure marks the end of an era at Android while signaling a new chapter focused on pioneering AI-driven advancements in biomedical research within Alphabet's expansive innovation landscape.
