Joe Maring / Digital Trends
The Android humankind is changing .
On June 12 , Dave Burke announced on X ( formerly Twitter ) that he ’s stepping down from his role as the VP of engineering for Android . In his postal service , Burke says he is continue with Google ’s parent company , Alphabet , is temporarily remaining on the Android team as an “ consultant , ” and is looking for new chance in “ AI / bio . ”
Joe Maring / Digital Trends
So … after 14 yrs lead Android engineering , I've decided it's time for a change . An awe - inspiring ride helping build the biggest OS on the satellite ( + many Nexus / Pixel ) . I'm forever thankful for the opp . Continuing as consultant while figuring out what's next in AI / bio . More here : …
& mdash ; Dave Burke ( @davey_burke)June 13 , 2024
Burke provide a mo more information in his departure electronic mail posted on LinkedIn , writing :
“ AI has the potential to diddle a pivotal role in accelerating drug discovery , with extensive applicability , include in hard - to - treat pediatric cancers , a matter close to my heart . I ’m working with Sundar to explore relevant character at Alphabet .
“ There ’s no way to sum up almost 1.5 ten of work in a single email . But I want to say thank you for the once - in - a - lifetime , awe - inspiring opportunity . I stayed so long because of our unbelievable impact – building the futurity of computing at planet scale . ”
Even if you do n’t know Dave Burke by name , if you ’ve used an Android phone over the last 14 year , you ’re familiar with his work . Burke started his VP of technology role in October 2014 , but he ’s been with Google since as early as 2007 . Throughout his time at Google , Burke played a significant role in creating the Nexus and Pixel smartphone brand name , the Google Chrome Mobile River apps , Android TV , and more . Burke has often made an appearance at Google I / O over the years to showcase new Android features , includingGoogle I / O 2024just last calendar month .
Burke has n’t sound out who will be charter over his role hold up forward . In another part of his email post to LinkedIn , Burke writes , “ It ’s important for me to allow you in sound hands with a well thought out ecological succession program . ” He carry on : “ We ’ll be follow up curtly with some extra specifics about this change , so please keep an eye out for that . ”
This newsworthiness follows another big interior transformation at Google from less than two calendar month ago . In April , Google announcedthat its Android , Chrome , Pixel , Nest , and other team would now be overseen by Rick Osterloh under a fresh “ Platform and Devices ” squad . At the same prison term , Hiroshi Lockheimer ( another old guard on the Android squad ) bequeath Android to wreak on “ other projects ” within the companionship .
With this workweek ’s news about Dave Burke , it ’s more apparent than ever that Google is radically stimulate matter up , especially with the Android team . Burke has been synonymous with Android for nearly a decade now , so his departure is not one to be charter light .
What does this have in mind for the future of Android ? It ’s too early to say . Likely , we wo n’t see any drastic changes anytime soon — and mayhap not for a while . But prominent leaders leaving like this indicate that something with child is find . What that means for you and me , we do n’t know for certain . But if you ’re an Android devotee and eager to see where the OS goes next , it ’s safe to say these are powerful interesting times .
