Google was caught off guard by the rise of generative AI, according to Sundar Pichai, CEO of the tech giant. He admitted that the boom in artificial intelligence took the company by surprise, especially following the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Reports suggest that Pichai even issued a code red alert in response to the sudden popularity of the chatbot, leading Google to ramp up its AI efforts. This included bringing back the company’s cofounders to assist with product development.
In the wake of ChatGPT’s success, Google intensified its focus on AI, introducing its own rival product and merging its AI research groups, Google Brain and DeepMind, into a new unified team named Google DeepMind.
Despite these efforts, Google faced challenges in controlling the narrative around AI, unlike its old rival Microsoft, which capitalized on early investments in OpenAI. Google also experienced setbacks with its chatbot Bard making a mistake during a demo and its Gemini model generating historically inaccurate images, leading to criticism.
Pichai later acknowledged the missteps, stating that the company got it wrong with Gemini and that the model’s responses had shown bias and offended users. However, he remains optimistic about Google’s position in the AI landscape, stressing that it is still early days for the technology.
While Microsoft reaped the benefits of its strategic moves, Google is determined to continue innovating in the AI space. Pichai expressed confidence in the company’s readiness for the future, emphasizing the ongoing evolution and potential of artificial intelligence.
As Google navigates the complex AI landscape, it faces both opportunities and challenges in shaping the future of technology. With a commitment to advancing AI responsibly and ethically, Google is poised to lead the way in this transformative field.
