Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google’s parent company Alphabet, recently shared his thoughts on artificial intelligence (AI) technology in an interview on CBS’s “60 minutes.” Pichai noted that he believed AI could be more profound than the inventions of fire and electricity – the two elements that changed human history the most. Already, Google is rolling out experimental products using AI, such as its chatbot “Bard” and its new AI-powered version of their search-engine competitor Bing from Microsoft. Though many have praised Google for their strides in AI, some of their own employees have raised flags on the company’s push to release products too quickly.
Hints of caution are also coming from Pichai himself, as he noted in the interview with CBS that the quick progress of AI keeps him up at night. John Giannandrea, Google’s chief of AI, has also downplayed the potential for AI to cause an “intelligence explosion,” as discussed in many sci-fi stories, and instead stresses the importance of developing safeguards that prevent AI from being used for malevolent purposes.
For its part, Google has repeatedly stated its commitment to responsible innovation, emphasizing that they are continually evolving their model of oversight and monitoring result to ensure user privacy and safety, even as they continue to innovate with forward-thinking AI products.
As the largest search engine in the world, Google has long been one of the most important players in the technology industry. The company has provided modern solutions to help everyday tasks become easier, faster, and more efficient. This innovation extended to their venture into AI, and with the leadership of CEO Sundar Pichai, they have continued to push the boundaries of technology to bring new and better products to consumers.
