In a recent dialogue with Bloomberg, Sundar Pichai, the Google CEO, tackled an array of topics, including the transition of Google's ex-employees to OpenAI, a key rival, and the current standing of Google's AI-based technology, specifically its Chatbot, Bard.
Pichai candidly acknowledged the migration of 'Googlers' to competitors such as OpenAI and the subsequent launch of over 2000 startups. He applauded this trend, asserting that many of these startups, often built by Google ex-employees, could evolve into future Google customers, demonstrating how Google excels in fostering innovation even beyond its own realm.
Pichai highlighted Google's cost-cutting strategies amidst the financial pressure in Silicon Valley due to the pandemic. Alphabet, Google's parent firm, has announced plans to let go of approximately 12,000 employees worldwide, marking a substantial 6% reduction in their global workforce.
Addressing Google's AI-based technology, the Google CEO conceded that Bard, their AI chatbot, might lag in certain areas compared to competitors like ChatGPT. However, he underlined the fact that the AI technology field is still in its early stages.Reflecting on the potential risks AI technology could pose, including misinformation and deepfakes, Pichai agreed with a recent call by notable AI personalities from both Google and OpenAI. This call stressed the need to treat the mitigation of AI risks as a global priority, paralleling concerns of other societal-scale issues like pandemics and nuclear warfare.