Top Google engineering exec leaves due to "unstable commitment and vision"

Google has lost its former head of operating systems on the augmented reality team, as Mark Lucovsky announces his departure from the business, saying that he had “decided to step away” from his role.

Writing on LinkedIn, Lucovsky says that “The recent changes in AR leadership and Google’s unstable commitment and vision have weighed heavily on my decision.

“Moving forward, I am eager to explore opportunities that allow me to further advance Augmented Reality technology and its intersection with generative AI. I approach the next chapter with enthusiasm and anticipation for the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.”

Lucovsky was responsible for the design and delivery of the operating system and software platform for Google’s AR and XR devices.

He had made his return to the search engine in December 2021, working on the now-shelved Project Iris AR glasses – he had previously worked at Google as engineering director between 2004 and 2009. Lucovsky’s resume also includes companies like Microsoft, VMware, and Oculus VR. 

Lucovsky’s departure comes after an announcement from Google in January of this year, that it would be letting go of 12,000 staff from its offices around the world in response to an economic downturn.

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and parent company Alphabet, said in a statement on the tech company’s website that “This will mean saying goodbye to some incredibly talented people we worked hard to hire and have loved working with. I’m deeply sorry for that.

“The fact that these changes will impact the lives of Googlers weighs heavily on me, and I take full responsibility for the decisions that led us here,” Pichai admitted.

Looking ahead, however, Pichai said that “I am confident about the huge opportunity in front of us thanks to the strength of our mission, the value of our products and services, and our early investments in AI. To fully capture it, we’ll need to make tough choices.”

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Top Image: Mark Lucovsky