Google CEO Sundar Pichai described the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT as a catalyst for the company, during Salesforce's Dreamforce conference. Acknowledging OpenAI’s lead, he noted that it catalyzed Google to expedite its chatbot project, Bard, later rebranded to Gemini. Despite initial hesitations over reputational risks, Pichai stated this disruption would fuel innovation, marking a strategic shift in Google's AI focus, with Bard's launch by March 2023 reinforcing their commitment.