New Delhi, November 18: Sundar Pichai, the chief of Google’s parent company, acknowledges that the overwhelming influx of funds and enthusiasm surrounding artificial intelligence is remarkable yet somewhat irrational. In an interview with the BBC, he described the current surge in AI investment as an “extraordinary moment,” while also noting the presence of some “irrationality” in the way this boom is developing.
He likened it to the early days of the internet, when companies invested vast sums of money, often without justification. Nevertheless, he emphasized that no one today questions the significance of the internet.
Looking back at the internet, there was undoubtedly a lot of excessive investment, but none of us would dispute the internet’s profound impact,” he remarked. “I anticipate AI will follow a similar trajectory. Therefore, I believe there are both rational aspects and elements of irrationality in a moment like this.”
When questioned about whether Google could avoid repercussions if the AI bubble were to burst, Pichai asserted that the company is robust enough to weather such a shock. However, he clarified that every major technology firm would experience some level of impact. His point was that even the largest companies are not completely shielded. He also discussed the significant increase in energy demands associated with AI, the deceleration of climate objectives due to these demands, and Google’s ongoing investments in the UK. He addressed persistent worries regarding the accuracy of AI systems at scale and how the rapid expansion of AI could transform the job market.
Alphabet’s market capitalization has surged to $3.5 trillion in just seven months, as investors become increasingly confident in the company’s capacity to compete with OpenAI. Concurrently, Pichai emphasized the necessity of maintaining a “rich information ecosystem” to prevent individuals from relying solely on AI tools for knowledge or decision-making.
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