In an interview with Bloomberg, Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai asserted that the organization’s AI offerings would play a pivotal role in the mainstream search experience and indicated that the company had taken a cautious approach to its development.
We’ve been cautious. There are areas where we’ve chosen not to be the first to put a product out. We’ve set up good structures around responsible AI. You will continue to see us take our time.
When inquired about the accuracy of Google’s generative AI products, Pichai acknowledged that there is a trade-off. He recognized that the technology has opened up new applications and has been well received by consumers, but also noted that as a generative tool, there may be instances in which it generates erroneous responses.
The CEO further remarked that the departure of Google researchers to initiate their ventures or join similar entities such as OpenAI is a positive development, citing over 2,000 startups that have emerged from former Googlers. He further added that some of these entities could potentially become cloud customers while others may return to the fold.
Regarding the current status of Google’s Bard chatbot relative to the competition, Pichai admitted that there are areas where progress has been made but also recognized that there are still areas where further advancements are needed as the technology is still advancing.
In May, a group of well-known AI researchers, including several Google executives, composed a letter cautioning against the potential for AI to lead to human extinction. In response, Sundar Pichai emphasized the importance of focusing on issues such as bias or misinformation, safety incidents, and deepfakes, stating that such concerns should be taken seriously.
There is a noteworthy level of consensus within the industry regarding the necessity for some form of AI regulation. When asked about this, Pichai suggested that it should be considered within the context of existing regulations and proportionate to associated risks and use cases. Additionally, he stressed the importance of not disregarding ethical considerations.
Via Bloomberg
