It is definitely good news for Google. However, as far I as know Gosling was not working on core technical projects for a long time. Maybe he will work more like a tech evangelist like Tim Bray.
But don't you want that sort of guy _not_ working on core projects? - then they get intrigued by running some little embedded language on toasters, and WHAM.
(But you do involve them in enough core work such they have a feel for the practicalities)
