Josh Woodward, the Vice President of Google Labs, is making significant strides in the tech giant’s artificial intelligence landscape. Since his promotion in April 2025, Woodward has been at the helm of the Gemini app, a critical part of Google’s quest to maintain leadership in the rapidly evolving AI sector. His appointment comes during a particularly challenging time for Google, as concerns about competition from powerful rivals like OpenAI have underscored the need for innovation and adaptability within the company.
Woodward, who began his journey with Google in 2009 as a product marketing intern, has taken bold steps to ensure that Google’s AI offerings continue to capture user interest in an era that is seeing a shift from traditional search to AI-driven applications. As more users turn to AI for tasks ranging from online shopping to customer queries, Google aims to keep them engaged within its ecosystem, developing features that cater to these changing behaviors.
The Gemini app, which includes a popular image generator feature called Nano Banana, has seen remarkable success. This feature, launched in late August, allows users to blend multiple images to create unique digital outputs. It gained immense traction quickly, even overwhelming Google’s AI infrastructure. Despite the challenges, the Gemini app’s popularity surged, resulting in over 5 billion images generated and a remarkable spike in active users from 350 million to 650 million in just six months.
The app’s recent updates, including the launch of Gemini 3, have excited both the tech industry and consumers alike. Woodward expressed his enthusiasm for the current pace of innovation, emphasizing the empowerment that GPT-like models offer developers and users in terms of product and use case creation. He noted, “I’ve never had more fun than right now,” reflecting the dynamic atmosphere at Google Labs.
However, Woodward faces the critical challenge of balancing rapid innovation with ethical considerations surrounding AI. As capabilities expand, he is acutely aware of the societal implications of AI technologies, including the potential for misuse and the importance of trust in user interactions. He has led discussions about amplifying human creativity while managing the potential negative consequences of advanced AI applications.
Notably, Woodward has built a reputation for breaking through Google’s bureaucracy to expedite projects. He introduced systems like “block” to streamline processes and minimize obstacles, thus helping teams focus on innovation rather than getting bogged down by administrative hurdles. Coworkers describe him as approachable and dedicated, notably for his commitment to addressing user feedback directly on platforms like X and Reddit.
As the end of 2025 approaches, there are high expectations for Google and Woodward’s leadership in AI. Alphabet’s stock has rebounded significantly, rising 62% this year, and the company is leaning heavily into its AI initiatives, with capital expenditures for AI infrastructure expected to reach between $91 billion and $93 billion. The momentum is palpable, and Google is committed to sustaining its leadership role in the expanding AI marketplace.
The atmosphere at Google, under Woodward’s influence, is one of optimism and creativity, setting the stage for continued advancements in AI technology and a hopeful future for both the company and its users.