AI could eventually replace CEOs, warns Sundar Pichai
What's the story
Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet Inc. and Google, has said that artificial intelligence (AI) could one day replace CEOs. In a BBC interview, he was asked if AI could threaten all jobs, including his own as a CEO. He replied with a smile and said, "I think what a CEO does is maybe one of the easier things maybe for an AI to do one day."
AI evolution
Perspective on AI's potential
Pichai reiterated his earlier statement that "AI is the most profound technology humanity has ever worked on, and it has potential for extraordinary benefits." He acknowledged that while AI will eliminate some jobs, it will also create new opportunities. He said, "It will evolve and transition certain jobs, and people will need to adapt."
Embracing change
Pichai urges adaptation to AI
Pichai stressed the need for people across professions to learn and adapt to AI technology. He said, "People who adopt and adapt to AI will do better." He added that all professions would continue to exist but those who learn how to use these tools would excel in their respective fields.
AI's reach
Views on AI's capabilities and limitations
Pichai said that in the next 12 months, AI will be able to perform complex tasks and act as an agent on a user's behalf. However, he also warned that there is still work to be done before we can unlock those capabilities. He said, "There is still work to be done to unlock those capabilities but that's the journey which has been so exciting to see."
Market influence
Pichai on AI's impact and Google
Pichai said that no company, including Google, would be immune to the effects of the AI bubble burst. He warned that the industry can "overshoot" in investment cycles but expects AI to be as profound as the internet. He also said that Google is ready to weather any storm in the AI market due to its "own full stack of technologies."