Google VP Osterloh: Taiwan leads AI transformation, crucial to Google's innovation strategy [Exclusive]
Google's Senior VP Rick Osterloh emphasized Taiwan's central role in Google's AI-native device development and full-stack innovation strategy during an exclusive interview.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 19, 2026 at 10:39
- 🔍 Collected: April 19, 2026 at 11:00 (21 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 11:11 (11 min after Collected)
Rick Osterloh, who is approaching his 10th anniversary at Google, has witnessed the evolution of computing from mobile to the AI era. He currently serves as Senior Vice President of the newly formed "Platforms & Devices" division in 2024, overseeing all Pixel hardware and software like Android and Chrome.
During the interview at the Banqiao hardware R&D building, Osterloh highlighted Google's deep connection with HTC. He recalled the 2017 agreement with HTC, completed in 2018, which laid the strong foundation for Google Taiwan's current hardware R&D. Google's Taiwan team now operates in two dedicated buildings in Banqiao, developing global innovations like Pixel phones.
Osterloh believes Taiwan plays a "Central Role" in the AI computing landscape for the next decade. Collaborating with amazing partners like MediaTek and TSMC makes Google's products exceptional. "Taiwan is crucial to our global innovation strategy," he said.
Google Hardware VP Peng Yu-chun added that Google's "full stack" strategy fits perfectly with Taiwan's ecosystem. The geographical proximity to TSMC and MediaTek makes collaboration highly efficient.
Regarding "AI-Native" devices, Osterloh stated AI adds new native capabilities while improving core experiences. "This requires rethinking the entire system." Google's unique "Full Stack" approach covering apps, models, and custom chips allows consistent AI experiences across platforms.
Looking back, Google established its first Taipei office in 2006, launched the G1 in 2008, absorbed the HTC team in 2017, and opened Banqiao R&D buildings in 2021 and 2024. By 2025, it will establish the largest AI infrastructure hardware R&D center outside the US. (Editor: Lin Shu-yuan) 1150419
During the interview at the Banqiao hardware R&D building, Osterloh highlighted Google's deep connection with HTC. He recalled the 2017 agreement with HTC, completed in 2018, which laid the strong foundation for Google Taiwan's current hardware R&D. Google's Taiwan team now operates in two dedicated buildings in Banqiao, developing global innovations like Pixel phones.
Osterloh believes Taiwan plays a "Central Role" in the AI computing landscape for the next decade. Collaborating with amazing partners like MediaTek and TSMC makes Google's products exceptional. "Taiwan is crucial to our global innovation strategy," he said.
Google Hardware VP Peng Yu-chun added that Google's "full stack" strategy fits perfectly with Taiwan's ecosystem. The geographical proximity to TSMC and MediaTek makes collaboration highly efficient.
Regarding "AI-Native" devices, Osterloh stated AI adds new native capabilities while improving core experiences. "This requires rethinking the entire system." Google's unique "Full Stack" approach covering apps, models, and custom chips allows consistent AI experiences across platforms.
Looking back, Google established its first Taipei office in 2006, launched the G1 in 2008, absorbed the HTC team in 2017, and opened Banqiao R&D buildings in 2021 and 2024. By 2025, it will establish the largest AI infrastructure hardware R&D center outside the US. (Editor: Lin Shu-yuan) 1150419