Google is ramping up its internal drive for artificial intelligence integration, encouraging teams across the company to embed AI into daily workflows to enhance output while minimizing resource use. At a recent all-hands meeting, CEO Sundar Pichai, alongside Core Development VP Brian Saluzzo, emphasized a cultural shift focused on AI-first productivity.
Pichai explained that the company is entering a phase of intense investment, especially in AI infrastructure, but must avoid old patterns of simply increasing headcount. Instead, he stressed the need to achieve more with leaner teams, relying on AI to deliver efficiency gains. “During such transformative moments, the temptation is to scale by hiring, but this AI wave requires a smarter, more agile response,” he told employees.
Google’s capital expenditure for 2025 is now projected to hit $85 billion, a $10 billion increase from earlier estimates. Much of this investment will fuel the back-end architecture required to support large-scale AI deployments and innovation.
Saluzzo reinforced the message, saying software engineers, in particular, should accelerate the use of AI in coding processes to improve development velocity. “We’re pushing to get AI into more engineering tasks quickly so we can deliver results faster,” he noted.
To help with this transition, Google is rolling out AI tools and training to its workforce. The AI coding assistant Cider is already being used weekly by over 50% of employees with access. The company is also offering the AI Savvy Google program, which includes custom toolkits, tutorials, and workshops to help staff improve AI fluency. In collaboration with DeepMind, Google is also preparing to launch a new internal course titled “Building with Gemini.”
The initiative mirrors a larger movement across the tech industry. Microsoft has made AI usage mandatory within teams, and Shopify’s CEO now requires proof that AI can’t handle a task before hiring more staff.
Although Google’s total headcount has slightly dipped from its 2023 high, leadership is optimistic about performance—so long as teams prioritize output over size. The clear message from the top: AI isn’t just a tool, it’s the foundation of Google’s next phase—leaner, faster, and smarter.
