Sundar Pichai on the responsibility of tech companies and the potential of AI

This month, at the 2024 Business, Government & Society Forum at Stanford Graduate School of Business, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, spoke about the importance of companies taking responsibility for the impact they have on society.

He also discussed the challenges of regulating large technology companies and the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve Google Search.

Google’s Motto: Don’t Be Evil

Pichai began his remarks by discussing Google’s motto, “Don’t be evil.” He explained that this motto means that Google should always try to do things that are positively impactful to society. Pichai said that Google is committed to using its technology to make the world a better place.

Using AI to Improve Google Search

Pichai also discussed Google’s efforts to improve its search results. He said that Google is now using AI to answer users’ questions directly. This means that when users type a question into the Google search bar, Google may now be able to provide a direct answer, rather than just a list of links. Pichai said that AI is a powerful tool that can be used to improve Google Search, but it is important to deploy this technology carefully and responsibly.

Balancing Innovation with User Privacy

Pichai acknowledged that one of the biggest challenges facing Google is the need to balance the need for innovation with the need to protect user privacy. He said that Google is committed to protecting user privacy, but the company also needs to be able to innovate in order to continue to improve its products and services.

Summary

• Google’s motto, “Don’t be evil,” means that the company should always try to do things that are positively impactful to society.
• Google is constantly working to improve its search results and is now using AI to answer users’ questions directly.
• Pichai believes that AI is a powerful tool that can be used to improve Google Search, but it is important to deploy this technology carefully and responsibly.
• One of the biggest challenges facing Google is the need to balance the need for innovation with the need to protect user privacy.
• Pichai also discussed the potential of AI to improve workflows and the challenges of regulating large technology companies.