In the context of the vast changes brought about by artificial intelligence, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet, addressed concerns over AI-induced mass layoffs in an interview with Bloomberg on Wednesday evening, emphasizing that AI will continue to drive Alphabet's growth rather than causing massive job losses.
"I expect our current engineering phase to extend into next year as it allows us to do more," Pichai said. He stressed that AI is helping engineers reduce mundane tasks and focus on high-value projects, thus becoming a "catalyst" for product development rather than a "replacer" of jobs.
Despite Alphabet's multiple rounds of layoffs in recent years — including 12,000 employees in 2023, over 1,000 in 2024, and localized cuts in Google Cloud and Platform Devices this year — Pichai insisted that the company’s overall demand for talent has not diminished. "We remain confident about our growth prospects for the coming year."
He also pointed out that Alphabet is expanding in several frontier areas: Waymo autonomous driving, quantum computing, and YouTube’s global growth, particularly in the Indian market where YouTube now has over 100 million channels, with 15,000 channels having more than one million subscribers, demonstrating strong innovative momentum.
In response to Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, who suggested that AI could replace half of entry-level white-collar jobs within five years, Pichai showed understanding and caution. "I respect that statement... It's important to express concerns and have discussions," he said, while emphasizing that technology should not be viewed solely through the lens of fear.
Regarding more philosophical questions — whether AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) will ultimately be achieved? Pichai responded cautiously. "There is still much progress to be made on our path, and there are different exploration routes." He noted that technological progress is often nonlinear, with possibilities of stagnation or even regression. "Are we necessarily on the path to AGI? I don't think anyone can say definitively," he added.
In the present era of AI reshaping global industries, Alphabet appears to be trying to turn concerns into opportunities for growth.
