Market problems and Google's position
Alphabet's recent market performance has been driven by investor confidence in the company's ability to compete with OpenAI. ChatGPTand developing custom artificial intelligence chips that can compete with Nvidia's chips. Nvidia recently reached world's first $5 trillion valuation thanks to the creation of GPUs that can speed up the matrix math behind AI calculations.
Despite acknowledging that no company will be immune from a potential burst of the AI bubble, Pichai argues that Google's unique position gives it an advantage. He told the BBC the company has what he called a “full range” of technologies, from chips to YouTube data, models and cutting-edge scientific research. In his opinion, such an integrated approach will help the company survive any market shocks better than its competitors.
Pichai also said BBC that people shouldn't “blindly trust” everything AI tools spit out. The company is currently facing repeated accuracy problems about some models of artificial intelligence. Pichai said that while AI tools are useful, “if you want to write something creatively,” people “need to learn to use these tools for what they're good at and not blindly trust everything they say.”
In an interview with the BBC, the Google chief also addressed the “huge” energy needs of AI, admitting that the energy-intensive demands of expanding AI businesses have resulted in falling behind Alphabet's climate goals. However, Pichai insisted the company still wants to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030 by investing in new energy technologies. “This will impact the speed at which we had hoped to make progress,” Pichai said, warning that limiting the energy-based economy “will have consequences.”
Even with warnings of a potential artificial intelligence bubble, Pichai jumped at his chance to promote the technology, albeit with a hint of the dangers of widespread adoption. Pichai called AI “the most profound technology humanity has worked on.”
“We will have to overcome social disruption,” he said, adding that technology will “create new opportunities” and “develop and transfer certain jobs.” He said people who adapt to artificial intelligence tools will “do better” in their profession, no matter what field they work in.
