We haven’t heard much about Andy Rubin ever since he handed control of Android over to Sundar Pichai in 2013, but because he’s the father of Android, we’ll always have a soft spot for Mr. Rubin. That’s why it’s kind of a bummer to hear that he’s officially leaving Google.
Yes, Andy Rubin is leaving Google and the robotics division that he headed up after leaving Android. Google says that it’s still committed to robotics and that James Kuffner, a Google research scientist, will take Rubin’s position as head of the robotics division.
In a statement regarding Andy Rubin’s departure, Google CEO Larry Page said that he wishes Rubin the best. “With Android he created something truly remarkable — with a billion-plus happy users. Thank you.”
It’s not clear why Rubin left Google. A source speaking to the Wall Street Journal says that Rubin was “facing constraints on his activities” inside Google, which went against he entrepreneurial personality. Rubin denied that claim, saying that he “didn’t really have any issues with independence” and that he simply wanted to do something new.
Looking ahead, Andy Rubin will be helping startups build new technology hardware. That can include a number of products, and while it’s not known exactly how much we’ll see Rubin dabble in mobile again, we’ll always be interested in hearing what he’s up to thanks to all of his contributions to Android and mobile as a whole.
Android Match
Post a Comment