Google’s AI chief, Demis Hassabis, is to leave his hands-on leadership role of the company’s London-based DeepMind unit, which oversees all of Google’s AI research, the company said.

At the same time, at least four senior AI staff, led by star researcher Jeff Dean are to leave the company to form a Google-backed start-up, Google said.

Together, the changes add up to a major shift for Google at a time when its latest Gemini model is months behind schedule.

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Dramatic shift