Sundar Pichai understands why people fear artificial intelligence

Rose: When we last had you, we asked you about AGI and your feelings about the term. At the time you replied that it didn’t really matter if you achieved AGI or not because the systems would be very, very capable and Google’s strategy should be the same. I noticed you didn’t say AGI in your speech. Demis (Hassabis) yes, but you don’t. How do you feel today about the concept of AGI and the idea that all this progress is leading to something unique and world-changing?

Pichai: It is inevitable that progress towards AGI is happening. I understood this for a long time, otherwise I would not have turned the company around 10 years ago to put this technology front and center of the company. All I meant by that statement was that even in a scenario where AGI is 10 years away, the technology—which is three years away—will be so much more powerful than what we have today that I don’t want people to think that because AGI is 10 years out, you don’t need to act or prepare.

Rose: Do you have AGI pills?

Pichai: I am absolutely certain that technology is making fundamental progress towards AGI. I’m less able to predict with certainty whether it’s in a three to five year time frame or a five to ten year time frame. The rate of progress over the last one to two years has given me the feeling that it’s on the closer side than not. In my role of managing one of the largest companies in the world, with a responsibility to society, the language I choose to use may differ from that of other people. But 10 years ago I announced TPU and AI-first data centers on the I/O stage. Yes, we clearly understand where this technology is headed.

Newton: As a final question, one of the most memorable phrases from this year’s keynote came from Demis when he said that we are at the “foot of the singularity.” Can you tell us specifically what that means from Google’s perspective? And should people be excited, or scared, or both?

Pichai: I had many conversations with Demis on this subject. In this context, he defines the “singularity” as the arrival of AGI. If you believe it, it makes sense to you, that’s what you’re saying. For him, it thus defines the singularity. I think I and many others feel it’s important to articulate this if you believe in it because we’re all on the edge of building this technology and hopefully people are listening. It is important as a society that we embrace this and prepare for it.

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