Google CEO Sundar Pichai and the Future of AI | The Circuit

Bloomberg Originals
8 May 202424:02

Summary

TLDRThe video script features an in-depth conversation with Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, discussing the pivotal moment Google finds itself in as it navigates the rapidly evolving landscape of AI technology. Pichai reflects on Google's transformative impact on the world, its role as the internet's front door, and the challenges of maintaining cultural relevance amidst increasing competition. He outlines Google's strategic embrace of AI across its business, including YouTube and Cloud, and addresses the surprise challenge posed by Microsoft and OpenAI's chatbot, ChatGPT. The discussion delves into Pichai's leadership style, the company's response to AI-generated content, the importance of maintaining a link to diverse sources in search results, and the potential future of AI-powered hardware. Pichai emphasizes the importance of innovation, the company's commitment to foundational progress towards artificial general intelligence, and the need for global cooperation on AI safety. He also acknowledges the potential risks of AI and the necessity of not becoming complacent in a fast-paced technological environment.

Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿšช Google's influence: Google has significantly changed how we live, work, and communicate, acting as the 'front door of the internet' for over two decades.
  • ๐Ÿ“ˆ Sundar Pichai's leadership: As CEO of Google and Alphabet, Pichai has been pivotal in integrating AI into Google's business strategy, despite surprises from competitors like Microsoft and OpenAI.
  • ๐Ÿค– AI in everyday life: Pichai and his family use AI technologies like Google Lens for homework assistance, indicating AI's integration into daily activities.
  • ๐ŸŒ Global impact: Google's decisions, influenced by AI, affect how billions of people access information, highlighting the importance of ethical AI development.
  • ๐Ÿ“ˆ Stock performance: Google had a successful financial quarter, which Pichai sees as a result of hard work and strategic AI-first initiatives.
  • ๐Ÿงต The transformer's origin: Google researchers invented the technology behind the transformer model, which is now a key component in AI advancements.
  • ๐Ÿ” Search quality and AI: Google uses transformers to improve search quality, and the company continues to innovate with generative AI models like Gemini.
  • ๐Ÿ’ก AI's future at Google: Pichai emphasizes that Google's future is increasingly tied to AI, which will be integral to Search and other products.
  • ๐Ÿค Founders' involvement: Sergey Brin and Larry Page, Google's founders, remain involved, providing Pichai with advice and a broader perspective on AI's development.
  • ๐ŸŒŸ Long-term vision: Pichai takes a long-term approach to AI, viewing the current moment as the beginning of a decade of significant innovation.
  • ๐Ÿšซ Handling controversy: Google has faced criticism for its AI-generated content, and Pichai acknowledges the need to address issues like synthetic images and misinformation.

Q & A

  • How has Google influenced the way we live, work, and communicate?

    -Google has significantly changed how we live, work, and communicate by becoming the front door of the internet for over two decades. It has revolutionized the way we access information, work with digital tools, and interact with one another through various online platforms and services.

  • What is Sundar Pichai's role at Google and Alphabet?

    -Sundar Pichai is the CEO of both Google and its parent company, Alphabet. He oversees major businesses such as YouTube, DeepMind, Cloud, and Search, and is responsible for crafting strategies that integrate AI across all aspects of the company.

  • How has the advent of AI technology impacted Google's business strategy?

    -AI technology has led to a strategic shift at Google, with Sundar Pichai emphasizing an 'AI-first' approach since becoming CEO. This involves infusing AI into every part of Google's business to maintain a competitive edge and drive innovation.

  • What was Sundar Pichai's experience like when he first joined Google?

    -Sundar Pichai joined Google on April Fool's Day in 2004, which led to some confusion as Gmail was launched on the same day. His interview process was focused on Gmail, and he was asked for his thoughts on the new product.

  • How does Sundar Pichai view the current frenzy around AI?

    -Sundar Pichai sees the current frenzy around AI as part of a long game and believes that while there is excitement and a sense of urgency, Google is prepared for it. He views the current tech cycle as bigger and feels that Google is in the early stages of what will be an extraordinary decade of innovation.

  • What is Google's approach to integrating AI into its search functionality?

    -Google uses AI, specifically transformers, to improve the quality of search results. The company is also exploring the use of generative AI to provide quick answers while maintaining the importance of linking to a variety of sources.

  • How does Sundar Pichai respond to criticisms that Google Search is getting worse due to more SEO spam?

    -Pichai acknowledges the challenge of new content and AI-generated content, but he believes that providing high-quality search results is what defines a successful product. Google is focused on improving its ability to filter and provide relevant, high-quality content.

  • What is the potential impact of AI-generated content on Google's advertising business model?

    -While AI-generated content might provide direct answers without the need for links, Pichai believes that people want choices and that Google has been experimenting with ads in conjunction with AI. The fundamental principles of balancing content and ads are expected to hold true during the AI phase.

  • How does Google plan to address the issue of AI-generated images that are historically inaccurate or offensive?

    -Google acknowledges the mistake with the initial generation of certain images and takes responsibility for it. The company is working on refining its models to prevent such issues and ensure that its AI systems provide accurate and appropriate responses.

  • What is Sundar Pichai's perspective on the future of AI and its role at Google?

    -Pichai is optimistic about the future of AI and believes that it will continue to transform Google's products. He emphasizes that Google is committed to making foundational progress towards artificial general intelligence (AGI) in a bold and responsible way.

  • How does Sundar Pichai view the importance of maintaining Google's innovative culture amidst rapid technological changes?

    -Pichai views innovation as crucial for Google's survival and success. He believes in maintaining a culture of vibrant, open debate and ensuring that employees have a voice. He also stresses the importance of focusing on Google's mission and being prepared to adapt to the rapid pace of technological change.

Outlines

00:00

๐ŸŒ The Evolution and Future of Google with AI

The first paragraph introduces the central theme of Google's influence on various aspects of life and its pivotal moment under CEO Sundar Pichai. It discusses the company's adaptation to the changing digital landscape and the strategic integration of AI across its business units, including YouTube and Search. The dialogue also touches on Pichai's personal journey with Google, the company's famous interview questions, and a reflection on the rapid growth and recent successes of Google, emphasizing its commitment to AI-first innovation.

05:01

๐Ÿค– AI's Impact on Google's Business and Ethical Considerations

The second paragraph delves into the transformation of Google under the age of AI, the challenges posed by competitors like Microsoft and OpenAI's ChatGPT, and Google's response to the AI revolution. It explores the ethical considerations of AI, such as the generation of inappropriate content and the importance of maintaining a diverse range of information sources. The discussion also covers the potential threats to Google's advertising business model due to AI-driven chatbots and the company's efforts to balance commercial interests with user needs.

10:01

๐ŸŒŸ Navigating AI's Future and Google's Role

The third paragraph focuses on Sundar Pichai's perspective on AI's potential and the steps Google is taking to lead in the field. It addresses concerns about AI-generated content's impact on search results and the importance of distinguishing between synthetic and real content. Pichai also discusses the long-term view of AI development at Google, the company's approach to innovation, and the criticism it faces for its cautious leadership style. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on Google's past and the importance of continuous innovation to avoid becoming obsolete.

15:02

๐Ÿ“ˆ Google's Strategic Direction and Handling of Internal and External Challenges

The fourth paragraph outlines Google's strategic direction under Pichai's leadership, emphasizing the importance of AI in transforming Google's products. It discusses the company's handling of internal issues, such as employee protests and the need for a focused approach to innovation. The dialogue also touches on Google's response to competition, particularly from Microsoft, and the company's commitment to driving progress in AI. Additionally, it addresses regulatory pressures and the potential for Google to face a breakup similar to other large companies.

20:04

๐ŸŒŸ Google's Vision for AI and the Path to AGI

The fifth and final paragraph explores Google's vision for the future of AI, including the potential of AI-powered hardware and the company's role in shaping that future. It discusses the global implications of AI development, the need for international cooperation on AI safety, and Google's commitment to making progress towards artificial general intelligence (AGI). The dialogue concludes with a reflection on the current state of AI, the importance of not becoming complacent, and the hope that future advancements will make today's technology seem basic in comparison.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กGoogle

Google is a technology company that specializes in Internet-related services and products. It is well-known for its search engine, which has been a dominant force in the industry for over two decades. In the video, Google is portrayed as being at a pivotal moment, with its CEO, Sundar Pichai, discussing the company's strategic shift towards AI and its impact on various aspects of life, including how people live, work, and communicate.

๐Ÿ’กArtificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions. In the context of the video, AI is a central theme, with Sundar Pichai emphasizing Google's commitment to integrating AI into every aspect of its business. The discussion also touches on the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, such as the potential for AI-generated content and the ethical considerations surrounding its use.

๐Ÿ’กSundar Pichai

Sundar Pichai is the CEO of Google and its parent company, Alphabet. He is depicted in the video as a key figure in steering the company's direction towards an AI-first approach. Pichai's leadership style and strategic decisions are highlighted, particularly his focus on long-term innovation and the integration of AI across Google's product suite.

๐Ÿ’กChatGPT

ChatGPT is a language model developed by OpenAI that has gained attention for its ability to generate human-like text. In the video, ChatGPT is mentioned as a rival technology that has challenged Google's dominance in the tech industry, particularly in the realm of AI and search capabilities.

๐Ÿ’กAI-first

The term 'AI-first' refers to a strategic approach where artificial intelligence is prioritized and integrated into the core of a company's products and services. Sundar Pichai speaks about making Google an 'AI-first' company, which means that AI is not just an add-on feature but is fundamental to the innovation and development of Google's offerings.

๐Ÿ’กTransformer

The transformer is a type of AI model architecture that is particularly effective for handling sequential data such as language. It is mentioned in the video that Google researchers invented the transformer, which has become a foundational technology in AI, particularly in natural language processing. The script discusses how Google has infused transformers across its products to enhance search quality and other services.

๐Ÿ’กGoogle Lens

Google Lens is an image recognition technology that allows users to get information about objects or scenes by capturing a photo or video with their device. In the video, Sundar Pichai shares a personal anecdote about using Google Lens to help with his children's homework, illustrating the practical applications of AI in everyday life.

๐Ÿ’กSearch Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO refers to the process of improving a website's visibility and ranking on search engines. The video discusses concerns that search quality may be deteriorating due to an increase in SEO spam. This highlights the ongoing challenge for Google to maintain the integrity and relevance of its search results in the face of evolving online content strategies.

๐Ÿ’ก

๐Ÿ’กGenerative AI

Generative AI is a branch of AI that involves creating new content, such as text, images, or music, that is similar to content created by humans. In the video, Sundar Pichai talks about using generative AI to enhance Google Search by providing quick answers and linking to a variety of sources, emphasizing the balance between AI-generated responses and traditional search results.

๐Ÿ’กAlphabet

Alphabet Inc. is the parent company of Google, which was created to restructure Google's holdings and give greater flexibility for its various businesses. The video discusses Alphabet's transformation from a collection of 'moonshots' to a more focused organization, with an emphasis on deep technology investments and AI applications across its portfolio.

๐Ÿ’กAI Safety

AI safety refers to the field of study concerned with ensuring that artificial intelligence systems are developed and used in a manner that is secure and beneficial to society. The video touches on the need for global cooperation and regulatory frameworks to address the challenges and ethical considerations of AI, including issues related to AI-generated content and its impact on search results.

Highlights

Google's influence on how we live, work, and communicate has been significant, with Sundar Pichai at the helm during a pivotal moment for the company.

Pichai's strategy involves infusing AI into every corner of Google's business, including YouTube, DeepMind, Cloud, and Search.

The emergence of ChatGPT has challenged Google's cultural relevance and sparked a frenzy over AI in the tech industry.

Pichai views the current AI frenzy as part of a long game and remains focused on the future of innovation at Google.

Google's famous out-of-the-box interview questions did not apply to Pichai, whose interview centered around the launch of Gmail.

Google's recent financial success is attributed to a hardworking approach and an AI-first strategy since 2016.

AI's rapid development feels bigger and different from previous tech cycles, with Google aiming to stay ahead of the curve.

Pichai and his family use Google Lens for homework, demonstrating the personal use of AI in everyday life.

Pichai's upbringing in Chennai, India, was marked by a deep appreciation for technology's transformative potential.

As CEO, Pichai has learned to identify patterns and separate signals from noise in the fast-paced tech industry.

Larry Page and Sergey Brin remain involved with Google, with Sergey recently spending more time coding and working on AI models.

Google's decisions regarding AI have far-reaching implications on how billions of people access information.

Google's core technology, the transformer, was invented by its researchers and is now a key component in competitive AI models.

Google Search aims to differentiate itself by providing quick answers while maintaining a link to a variety of sources.

Pichai acknowledges the challenge of improving Search quality amidst an explosion of new content and AI-generated data.

Google's advertising revenue model is being tested by the rise of chatbots that provide direct answers without search links.

The controversy surrounding AI-generated images and the need for ethical AI development is acknowledged by Pichai.

Pichai expresses optimism about the future of AI, hoping that current technology will seem basic compared to future advancements.

Transcripts

00:04

We are in the Plex.

00:07

This is the center of Google.

00:11

Gosh, it's hard to remember life before Google.

00:13

It changed literally everything.

00:17

How we live, how we work, how we communicate,

00:21

how we get literally anywhere on a Googly colored bike.

00:26

Google has been the front door of the internet

00:28

for over two decades,

00:31

and now there are so many doors.

00:33

Google may not be the first place you go

00:35

for answers anymore,

00:36

so what are they gonna do about it?

00:40

Hello.

00:41

Hi, Emily. So good to meet you again.

00:42

Good to see you again.

00:43

Thanks so much for having us here.

00:44

Oh, likewise.

00:45

I'm glad you chose a sunny day to come on campus.

00:48

It's beautiful.

00:49

Sundar Pichai is at a pivotal moment.

00:51

He's the CEO of Google

00:52

and its parent company, Alphabet,

00:54

rising to the top after proving his medal

00:56

as a talented product leader and peacemaker.

00:59

He runs a tech giant

01:01

that functions more like a micro country,

01:04

overseeing businesses as consequential as YouTube,

01:06

DeepMind, Cloud, and, of course, Search.

01:09

Pichai has been carefully crafting a strategy

01:12

that infuses AI into every corner of the business.

01:16

That deliberate planning was met with a surprise

01:18

from longtime rival Microsoft and OpenAI,

01:21

whose chatbot seemingly knocked Google off its perch

01:24

and challenged its cultural relevance.

01:27

ChatGPT set off a code red at Google,

01:30

and an industry-wide fever pitch over AI

01:33

not seen since the dot-com boom.

01:36

But for Pichai, the frenzy is just part of the long game.

01:40

I saw it's your 20th anniversary.

01:42

That's right.

01:43

It was last week. It crept upon me.

01:46

Are you coffee or tea?

01:48

I'll go for coffee.

01:49

How about you? I'm gonna have a green tea.

01:53

Does it feel like you've been here for 20 years?

01:56

Not quite.

01:57

You know, time flies by.

01:58

You know, I had my kids right when I started Google too,

02:01

so the whole thing just flew by.

02:05

Google is famous for those

02:06

out-of-the box job interview questions.

02:09

Do you remember any of yours?

02:10

Like, did you have to figure out

02:12

how many golf balls fit in a school bus

02:14

or something like that?

02:15

Thank God. No.

02:17

You know, but, you know, I remember very, very clearly

02:21

I interviewed on April 1st, so it was April Fool's Day 2004.

02:26

There was rumor.

02:27

I didn't know whether it had actually happened,

02:29

but Gmail apparently had launched.

02:31

So all my interviews were about Gmail.

02:33

People wanted to know what I thought of the product.

02:35

And it definitely wasn't a joke? They launched it.

02:38

They actually launched it, yeah.

02:39

But I never allow,

02:41

no products on April Fool's Day.

02:43

I think it's too confusing.

02:45

You just had a blowout quarter.

02:47

The stock jumped more than it has in a long time.

02:49

Did that feel like a little bit of vindication,

02:52

or, as they say in cricket,

02:55

was that the bat talking?

02:56

In many ways, you know,

02:57

it felt we worked very hard to set up the company for that.

03:01

You know, in 2016, one of the first things I did as CEO

03:03

was to say the company should be AI first.

03:06

To me, we are just getting started

03:08

in the beginning of what I think

03:09

will be a extraordinary decade of innovation,

03:12

and so I'm incredibly excited about it.

03:14

AI has been around for decades,

03:15

but it seems like everything is happening everywhere,

03:18

all at once.

03:19

How do you make sense of the frenzy and the scale?

03:23

All tech cycles are this way, right?

03:25

You know, the-

03:25

But this one feels different.

03:27

It feels bigger. Is it?

03:28

It is bigger.

03:29

We still have long ways to go,

03:30

but we are in the early stages of that.

03:33

And so, you know,

03:34

you're gonna feel that excitement, that frenzy,

03:37

but I think we are prepared for it.

03:40

So you kind of roll with the flow.

03:42

You embrace it.

03:44

How are you and your kids experimenting with AI at home?

03:47

We use Google Lens for homework.

03:49

I don't want to get 'em in trouble,

03:50

but the class allows you to do that.

03:54

But sometimes he asks me for help on math.

03:58

I dunno.

03:59

Sometimes I'm lazy and I pretend as if I'm thinking,

04:02

but I'm also using Google Lens

04:03

to kind of figure out the answer.

04:05

You grew up in Chennai in India.

04:08

What was it like at the kitchen table?

04:09

Like, what got you here?

04:12

My parents always emphasized, you know,

04:15

learning and knowledge,

04:16

and it's worked in some ways, Google with its mission,

04:20

it always resonated very deeply with me.

04:23

You know, I felt this quest

04:25

for learning knowledge, et cetera.

04:27

It's what the company is about, too.

04:29

I grew in a middle-class family.

04:30

I perceived our life through the arrival of gadgets.

04:35

We waited five years for a telephone.

04:37

It was a rotary phone,

04:39

but when it came to our home,

04:41

you know, it changed everyone's lives.

04:43

I remember getting our first television

04:47

and suddenly being able to watch sports.

04:50

You know, I used to bike a long way to school,

04:52

but, you know, there was no gear in the bike,

04:54

and I had to go uphill.

04:56

But then, after many years, I got a bike with gears,

04:58

and, like, I'm like, "Wow, this thing make, you know,

05:01

what a dramatic difference."

05:02

I never took technology for granted.

05:04

And so that's what, you know,

05:06

always been optimistic

05:07

about how technology can make a difference.

05:09

You've been CEO now for a decade.

05:11

How have you changed in that time?

05:14

I think the main thing is when you've done it for a while,

05:17

you know, you get to understand patterns,

05:20

so you're running into something,

05:21

but there's a sense of deja vu,

05:22

you know, you've seen it before.

05:24

And so I think that helps you kind of pattern match

05:29

and deal with it more effectively.

05:32

But a lot of this is, you know,

05:34

this scale, you have so much coming at you,

05:36

there's a lot of noise, and most of it doesn't matter.

05:39

So the ability to separate the signals from the noise,

05:42

pay attention to the few things

05:45

that you need to pay attention to.

05:46

And, you know,

05:47

I think I've gotten better at that over the years.

05:50

I heard Sergey is back and working a bit on AI.

05:53

What is the involvement of Larry and Sergey these days,

05:56

and what advice are they giving you?

05:58

I talk to them regularly.

06:00

Sergey is actually spending more time in the office.

06:03

He's literally coding.

06:04

And, you know,

06:06

some of my fondest memories over the last year

06:08

is sitting with Sergey on large screen

06:10

looking at lost curves as we train these models.

06:13

I think one of the advantages they have

06:15

is they're not caught up in the day-to-day.

06:18

And so sometimes, when I have conversations with them,

06:20

it allows all of us to step back

06:22

and look at the bigger picture,

06:24

which I think is incredibly important

06:26

when you run something at this scale.

06:31

The decisions Pichai and Google make

06:33

influence how billions of people get information.

06:36

And the nature of how users do that

06:38

is starting to change in the age of AI.

06:41

This seems like a threat to Google,

06:43

except the core technology being used

06:45

by Google's competitors was invented by Google itself.

06:51

Google researchers invented the transformer,

06:54

literally the T in GPT.

06:55

Do you wish you capitalized on that louder and sooner?

06:59

We use transformers in Search.

07:01

That's what led to large gaps in Search quality

07:04

compared to other products.

07:06

So we have infused transformers across our products.

07:09

We have a chance to do that better with generative AI

07:12

and with the Gemini series of models.

07:14

And there's gonna be more breakthroughs in this field.

07:17

But what is more important is we are driving that progress.

07:20

And if the new Google is only gonna be more and more AI,

07:23

you know, AI is super helpful sometimes,

07:27

but sometimes it's still deeply wrong.

07:29

Where do you draw the line?

07:31

I think part of what makes Google Search differentiator

07:35

is while there are times we give answers,

07:39

it'll always link to a wide variety of sources.

07:42

Now we've had answers in Search now for many, many years.

07:46

We are just now using generative AI to do that.

07:48

So the links will live on.

07:50

Yes, and, you know,

07:51

I think it'll always be an important part of Search.

07:54

There will be times when they want quick answers.

07:56

My son is celiac, so we did a quick question

07:58

to see whether something is gluten-free.

08:00

We just want to know.

08:01

But often it leads to more things,

08:03

and, you know, then you want to explore more.

08:05

I think understanding that, meeting all that needs

08:07

is part of what makes Search unique.

08:10

Some leading computer scientists

08:12

have said Search is getting worse, more SEO spam, et cetera.

08:16

Do you see their point?

08:17

Anytime there's a transition,

08:20

you get an explosion of new content,

08:22

and AI is going to do that.

08:24

So for us, we view this as the challenge,

08:28

and I actually think,

08:29

you know, there'll be people

08:30

who will struggle to do that, right?

08:32

So doing that well

08:33

is what will define a high-quality product,

08:35

and I think it's gonna be the heart

08:36

of what makes Search successful.

08:39

You make a ton of money on ads

08:40

next to the links generated by searches.

08:43

If a chatbot is giving you answers and not links,

08:46

and maybe more answers than links sometimes,

08:48

are we in the midst of an assault

08:50

on Google's business model?

08:52

So we've always found people want choices,

08:54

including in commercial areas,

08:56

and that's a fundamental need.

08:58

And I think we've always been able to balance it.

09:00

As we are rolling out AI or views in Search,

09:04

we've been experimenting with ads,

09:05

and the data we see shows that those fundamental principles

09:09

will hold true during this phase as well.

09:12

The images that Gemini initially generated of Asian Nazis

09:16

and Black founding fathers,

09:18

you've said that was unacceptable.

09:19

If you look at any pictures of the founding fathers,

09:21

you're seeing old white men.

09:23

People are calling this woke AI,

09:25

and it's not just happening here,

09:26

it's happening across the industry.

09:28

How did the model generate something that it never saw?

09:31

We are a company

09:32

which serves products to users around the world,

09:35

and there are generic questions.

09:37

For example, people come and say,

09:39

"Show me images of school teachers,

09:41

or doctors, or nurses."

09:44

We have people asking this query from Indonesia

09:47

or the US, right?

09:48

How do you get it right for our global user base?

09:52

Obviously, the mistake was that we overapplied,

09:57

including cases where it should have never applied.

10:00

So that was the bug,

10:01

and, you know, so we got it wrong.

10:03

Would you say it's like good intentions gone awry?

10:06

In this particular case, yes, right?

10:08

I think, you know, we are rightfully held to a high bar,

10:13

and I think we clearly take responsibility for it,

10:15

and we are gonna get it right.

10:17

How concerned are you

10:18

about AI-generated content ruining Search?

10:22

For example, the AI-generated selfie

10:24

of the tank man in Tiananmen Square.

10:26

It shows up in Google search results, but it never happened.

10:29

The challenge for everyone and the opportunity is,

10:34

how do you have a notion of what's objective

10:36

and real in a world

10:38

where there's gonna be a lot of synthetic content?

10:40

I think it's part of what will define Search

10:43

in the next decade ahead, right?

10:44

People often come to Google right away to see

10:48

whether something they saw somewhere else actually happen.

10:51

It's a common pattern we see.

10:53

We are making progress,

10:54

but it's gonna be an ongoing journey, right?

10:56

You've got AI systems

10:57

that are running out of training data.

10:59

You've got companies turning to AI-generated data

11:01

to train their models.

11:03

Aren't there risks to that?

11:05

Yes.

11:06

I think that, you know, through it all,

11:07

are you creating new knowledge?

11:10

Are these models developing reasoning capabilities, right?

11:13

Are you making progress in the intelligence of these models?

11:16

I think those are the frontiers we need to prove that,

11:19

you know, you can do that by using these techniques.

11:22

Is LLM technology nearing a plateau?

11:29

I would be surprised

11:30

if LLMs are the only thing we would need to make progress.

11:35

We are investing a lot of computing and resources.

11:40

Our AI research is talent

11:42

in driving the next generation set of breakthroughs.

11:44

It seems, when you look at the big picture,

11:46

like Google missed the big moment, and ChatGPT took it.

11:50

A new artificial intelligence program called ChatGPT

11:53

made its debut online.

11:55

It's as revolutionary as the internet.

11:57

The topic of today's big take is also Microsoft,

11:59

and it's big bet on AI

12:00

and how it just kind of leapfrogged over Google

12:02

and no one kind of knew about it until now.

12:05

If you could go back,

12:06

what would you do differently?

12:08

To be clear,

12:09

I take a long-term perspective and say,

12:12

when the internet just first came about,

12:14

Google didn't even exist then, right?

12:15

So we were in the first company to do search,

12:19

we were in the first company to do email,

12:21

we were in the first company to build a browser.

12:23

So I view this AI as,

12:25

you know, we are in the earliest possible stages.

12:29

Your leadership style has been described as slow,

12:31

and steady, and cautious, sometimes maybe too cautious,

12:34

and you're often compared to these other tech leaders

12:36

who are moving fast and breaking things.

12:39

How would you describe yourself?

12:42

Look, the reality, I think, is quite different.

12:45

One of the first things I did when I became a CEO

12:47

was to pivot the company sharply to focus on AI

12:51

as well as really invest more in YouTube

12:55

and Cloud to build them into big businesses.

12:57

I think the larger the company is,

13:00

you are making fewer consequential decisions,

13:03

but they need to be clear,

13:06

and you have to point the whole company to that.

13:09

Part of that, at times, involves bringing the company along.

13:12

You build consensus

13:13

because that's what allows you to have maximum impact

13:17

behind those decisions.

13:18

I mean, any leader in a position like yours

13:21

has to be willing to hear the criticism.

13:23

And I'm not gonna make you read the mean tweets

13:25

like they do on "Late Night,"

13:26

but I do have a few.

13:28

"Where is Google?"

13:29

"Running things through legal."

13:31

"Google doesn't have one single visionary leader,

13:34

not a one."

13:35

Do you think you're the right person to lead Google?

13:39

Look, it's a privilege to lead the company.

13:42

You know, people tend to focus in this micro moment,

13:48

but it is so small in the context of what's ahead,

13:51

and, you know, when I look at the opportunities ahead

13:53

across everything we do,

13:55

and for the first time,

13:56

all of that has a calm and leveraged technology with AI.

14:01

You know, I put a lot of chips,

14:03

at least from my perspective on Google.

14:10

So can you walk through campus without getting stopped?

14:13

It's definitely been nice to walk

14:15

and see people, you know, so I enjoy it a lot.

14:19

I see a dinosaur statue in the distance,

14:22

which I think is a good reminder.

14:24

Like, how much do you worry about becoming a dinosaur

14:27

in a world where technology is moving so quickly?

14:30

I mean, in technology, I think,

14:35

if you don't innovate to stay ahead,

14:38

I think that's the inevitable fate of any company.

14:42

No dinosaurs? Not yet.

14:44

Well, they were great,

14:45

but you know, you don't want,

14:46

you don't want to have the same fate.

14:50

How much has this AI moment forced you to move

14:52

and think differently?

14:54

Because it does seem like you're playing defense sometimes.

14:57

We have been preparing for this for a while.

15:00

You know, a lot of the foundation

15:02

of breakthroughs in the field came from Google.

15:05

So to me, this moment has been over the past year,

15:08

really channeling the company to meet the moment.

15:15

There they are. The I/O tents.

15:17

I/O tent.

15:18

For one time a year,

15:19

we get to pretend as if we are on a concert stage,

15:21

except we are speaking about technology.

15:23

So Google I/O is sort of a state of the Google Union.

15:27

What is the key message this year?

15:29

It's less about, you know, particular product,

15:32

more about the journey we are on,

15:34

the vision we have for how AI can transform our products,

15:38

and how we can bring it.

15:40

Alphabet used to be thought of

15:43

as this collection of moonshots,

15:44

but a lot of those projects have been spun off,

15:46

or folded back into Google, or shut down.

15:50

How should we think about Alphabet today?

15:53

What is the new Google?

15:57

When we think about both across Google and Alphabet,

16:01

the underlying bet is the same.

16:03

You're going to invest in deep technology

16:05

and computer science

16:06

and apply it to solve problems for people.

16:08

So I think that part doesn't change.

16:10

When you take big, large-scale bets,

16:13

by definition, you're not aiming big enough

16:16

if you don't have a few failures.

16:17

When you go back to the S-1,

16:19

Google said, "We're not a conventional company.

16:22

You can spend 20% of your time on personal projects."

16:25

Google created this bottoms up culture

16:28

where everyone has a voice, and it's super transparent,

16:31

and the perks are great too.

16:33

But did it go too far?