Google CEO Sundar Pichai has told employees to prepare for a significant 2025, with the stakes being described as high. The challenges and opportunities ahead were emphasised.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai conveyed to employees that 2025 is expected to be a pivotal year for the company, with high stakes amid growing competition, intensified regulatory scrutiny, and significant advancements in artificial intelligence.

During a strategy meeting held on December 18, Pichai, along with other Google leaders, highlighted the urgency of the challenges ahead. The need for the company to accelerate its efforts and stay relentlessly focused on AI’s potential to address real user problems was stressed. Leaders, wearing festive holiday sweaters, underscored the importance of adapting swiftly to disruptive moments. Employees participated in the meeting both in person at the Mountain View headquarters and virtually.

This announcement follows a year marked by unprecedented challenges for Google. Regulatory pressures have intensified globally, with a U.S. federal judge ruling that Google holds an illegal monopoly in the search market. The Department of Justice has called for divestitures of key units, and a trial regarding alleged dominance in online ad technology has concluded, awaiting judgment. In the U.K., competition regulators have provisionally found Google’s practices to be anti-competitive.

Pichai acknowledged the heightened scrutiny the company faces worldwide, attributing it to Google’s size and societal impact. He urged employees to remain undistracted and maintain focus on long-term goals despite external pressures. The importance of navigating this period with resilience and purpose was reinforced as the company prepares for the opportunities and challenges that 2025 will bring.