Google's Schmidt to Stay `as Long as It's Exciting'

Google Inc.’s Eric Schmidt said he has no plans to leave the owner of the world’s largest search engine, dismissing speculation he’s considering a career in the media or politics.

Schmidt said last week he will step down as chief executive officer in favor of Google co-founder Larry Page and become executive chairman. The executive is “committed to Google,” he told reporters at the Digital-Life-Design conference in Munich today. “How long are you committed to doing what you’re doing? As long as it’s exciting,” he said in response to a question about his plans.

Schmidt, 55, may be considering a career as a television host, the New York Post reported yesterday. Ken Auletta, author of “Googled: The End of the World as We Know It,” told Bloomberg TV that Schmidt may be weighing a role in the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama.

By turning to Page, Google may be looking to rekindle the entrepreneurial spirit that allowed it to grow into one of the world’s most valuable companies. The new CEO of the Mountain View, California-based company will confront challenges from Facebook Inc., Apple Inc., and startups such as Groupon Inc. in social networking, entertainment and retail.