Human
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA: In an interview with the BBC, Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Alphabet Inc. and its subsidiary Google LLC, warned that no company would be immune if the current surge in artificial-intelligence investment turns into a bubble.
Describing the moment as "extraordinary" yet marked by "elements of irrationality," Pichai drew parallels to the dot-com boom and warned that even his own company could suffer if valuations across the AI sector collapse. "I think no company is going to be immune, including us," he said.
Pichai also cautioned users not to "blindly trust" AI tools, saying they remain "prone to errors" despite Google's efforts to enhance accuracy. He advised that AI should be used as a helper alongside other methods, not treated as infallible.
For its part, Alphabet recently committed £5 billion over two years to boost UK AI infrastructure and train models in Britain, aligning with Prime Minister Keir Starmer's ambition to position the UK as a major AI power. Pichai noted, however, that the "immense" computing and energy demands of advanced AI could delay the company's net-zero commitments.
As the tech sector navigates the promise of AI alongside mounting questions about sustainability and market stability, Pichai's remarks are a reminder of the risks accompanying the industry's rapid expansion.
