In a recent interview, Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet Inc. and Google, emphasized the need for caution and regulation when it comes to the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Pichai acknowledged the potential benefits of AI and its urgency, but he also noted that AI has the potential to cause harm if it is not regulated and deployed in a responsible way.
Google has been a leader in developing and implementing AI across its services, such as Google Lens and Google Photos, which rely on the company’s image-recognition systems. Its Google Assistant benefits from natural language processing research that Google has been doing for years. Despite being a leader in AI technology, Google has been deliberately measured and cautious in deploying the technology, whereas other companies such as OpenAI have opened up a race to move forward with AI tools at a much faster pace.
Pichai cautioned against companies being swept up in the competitive dynamics and emphasized the importance of responsible development and deployment of AI. He cited the experience of OpenAI’s ChatGPT as a lesson, saying that “you don’t want to put out a tech like this when it’s very, very powerful because it gives society no time to adapt.”
Pichai also highlighted some of the risks associated with generative AI, such as deep fake videos that can cause harm to society. He emphasized the need for regulation and consequences for those who create deep fake videos that cause harm.
In conclusion, Pichai acknowledged the need to work and deploy AI in a beneficial way, but he also emphasized the importance of caution and regulation to avoid the potentially harmful effects of AI technology. As technology continues to evolve, it will be crucial for companies to approach its development and deployment with responsibility and care.