During an interview with CBS 60 Minutes, Google CEO Sundar Pichai emphasized the significant role of artificial intelligence (AI) as a critical technology that could potentially affect national security in the future. Pichai highlighted the pervasive impact of AI on all products today and urged society to adapt accordingly. He also expressed the need to establish global frameworks for AI over time. Pichai’s remarks were in response to concerns surrounding generative AI technologies like ChatGPT and Microsoft Bard, which have gained immense popularity since their public release less than six months ago.
Google is developing its own generative AI technology to compete with industry leaders like OpenAI and Microsoft. While Google’s ChatGPT has been made available for testing, its functionality is currently limited. Google plans to incorporate the underlying technology of its rival, Bard, known as LaMDA, to enhance the efficiency of Google Search.
One significant concern regarding generative AI technology is the potential for job displacement, which has raised fears among some experts. ChatGPT has already demonstrated its ability to write SEO-friendly articles, solve arithmetic problems, and review code. When questioned about the possibility of job losses due to the AI revolution, Pichai acknowledged that knowledge-based workers, including writers, accountants, architects, and even software engineers, could be affected.
Despite the potential impact of AI on jobs, Pichai remains optimistic about the future and believes that AI can aid workers by enabling smart work. This approach emphasizes the use of effective methods to complete tasks within a specific timeframe without compromising quality.
During the interview, Pichai acknowledged that there may come a time when countries will need to establish AI treaties, similar to the Non-Proliferation Treaty for nuclear weapons, to prevent the misuse of technology. Pichai also addressed criticisms aimed at Google for lagging behind competitors like Microsoft and OpenAI in the race to develop generative AI technologies, such as Bing Chat and ChatGPT, respectively.
Pichai cautioned against the potential dangers of “race conditions” in AI development, where competing companies prioritize speed over considering the possible risks and negative consequences. He emphasized the need for a more thoughtful and cautious approach to AI development.
Despite this, Pichai also praised OpenAI for their work on ChatGPT and acknowledged the positive impact of the technology. OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, has also called for government regulation and oversight of AI.
