Google's unified AI stack adds multimodal tools to Search, Android, Workspace
When I opened my phone this morning, the new Google AI was already there, tucked into Search, Android and Workspace like a hidden thread. It looks like Google is trying to stitch those three big consumer faces into one multimodal experience. The timing feels odd, though, because the company has been locked in a fierce race with OpenAI, a clash that even seemed to rattle NVIDIA’s market position.
By pulling vision, text and real-time reasoning into the same codebase, Google appears to be turning what used to be separate tricks into a layer that works wherever you type or speak. It’s more than a product tweak; it feels like an effort to change how we browse the web, use our phones and handle office tools without jumping between apps. The buzz still centers on OpenAI’s flagship model, but Google seems to be betting on breadth rather than a single, headline-grabbing feature.
That difference, I think, is why Patankar’s take matters, and it sets the stage for what follows.
According to Patankar, Google's new stack finally feels like a unified AI layer. Search, Android and Workspace all gain tightly integrated capabilities, from richer reasoning to real-time multimodal understanding. He said that while OpenAI still dominates the story around a single powerful app, Google is trying to build AI into the way people use their devices every day. "If they can keep this stable at scale, it changes the battlefield completely." Shrivastava said many people believed "Google Search was finished", but AI Mode shows it is "far from over and has actually got better." He also pointed out that more than 13 million developers are now using Google's generative AI models.
Patankar says Google’s new AI stack ties Search, Android and Workspace together, promising richer reasoning and real-time multimodal understanding. The launch, however, feels a bit shaky - remember Bard’s 2023 blunder about the James Webb telescope, and the criticism Gemini drew in 2024? Those missteps still echo.
The unified layer looks like Google wants its products to talk more closely, but it’s hard to say if users will actually notice a smoother experience. OpenAI still hogs the headlines with its single-app approach, something Patankar points out, so Google’s wider strategy hasn’t quite grabbed the same buzz yet. NVIDIA seems a little rattled too, as hardware partners sense the pressure of Google’s faster AI push.
We’ll be watching whether developers and everyday users take up these multimodal tools and if the claimed reasoning boost survives real-world use. In the next few months the picture should become clearer - can Google’s stack shake off its early errors and stick around in the crowded AI field?
Further Reading
- 8 Must-Know Google AI Updates For May 2025 (Expert Guide) - Empathy First Media
- Google launches its ultimate offensive in AI from Next 2025 - Sngular
- 100 things we announced at I/O 2024 - Google Blog
- Google's AI Strategy and 11 Key Developments - AIMultiple
- Google AI Studio 2025: Unified Playground Guide (Gemini+Veo) - HumAI Blog
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Common Questions Answered
What does Google's unified AI stack combine across Search, Android, and Workspace?
The stack weaves vision, text, and real‑time reasoning into a single codebase, enabling multimodal tools that work wherever users type or speak. This integration aims to turn previously isolated features into a cohesive AI layer across all three consumer platforms.
How does the new multimodal capability differ from OpenAI's single‑app approach?
Google's approach embeds AI directly into everyday devices and services rather than focusing on one powerful app, offering richer reasoning and real‑time multimodal understanding across Search, Android, and Workspace. Patankar suggests this could change the competitive battlefield if it remains stable at scale.
What past issues does the article mention that could affect perception of Google's AI rollout?
The rollout follows Bard's 2023 mistake about the James Webb telescope and criticism of Gemini in 2024, both of which linger in public memory. These incidents raise questions about whether the new unified layer will deliver noticeably better user experiences.
Why is the competition with OpenAI described as having shaken NVIDIA's market footing?
Intense rivalry between Google and OpenAI has impacted the broader AI hardware market, with NVIDIA feeling pressure as both companies push advanced multimodal models. The article implies that Google's unified stack could further intensify this competition.