Key members of Google’s old guard, including executives like Ruth Porat, Susan Wojcicki, and Urs Hölzle, are shifting roles or leaving the company as it searches for a new identity. Wojcicki, the CEO of YouTube, announced her departure after nine years, while Porat, the CFO of Alphabet, is stepping down to take on a new role as president and chief investment officer. The company is also facing challenges in the AI space and experiencing a shift in employee perception due to increased bureaucracy. Critics argue that Google needs to recreate its early days to sustain growth and deliver revenue.