NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 04: Sundar Pichai, C.E.O. of Google and Alphabet, speaks during the New York Times annual DealBook summit at Jazz at Lincoln Center on December 04, 2024 in New York City. The NYT summit with Andrew Ross Sorkin returns with interviews on the main stage including Sam Altman, co-founder and C.E.O. of OpenAI, Jeff Bezos, founder and executive chairman of Amazon and owner of the Washington Post, former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, among others. The discussions will touch on topics such as business, politics and culture. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has once again sought to calm fears over artificial intelligence (AI) displacing jobs, instead spotlighting the vast opportunities he sees in the technology’s continued evolution. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Bloomberg this week, Pichai emphasized that while AI is transforming the workplace, it is also creating new roles, industries, and avenues for economic growth.
Amid growing anxiety over generative AI tools and automation replacing white-collar work, Pichai dismissed apocalyptic narratives. “We’ve always had disruptions — from the industrial revolution to the internet era — and each time, new jobs emerged that we couldn’t have imagined before,” he said.
While acknowledging the “transition pain” some sectors may face, Pichai underscored that Alphabet is actively working to ensure the benefits of AI are broadly distributed. “We are committed to skilling, reskilling, and enabling people to thrive in this next era,” he said, referencing Google’s initiatives in AI education, including partnerships with community colleges and certificate programs.
Pichai stressed that Alphabet’s AI approach balances innovation with responsibility. “We’re moving fast, but we’re doing so with care — involving ethicists, engineers, and external experts throughout the process.”
The conversation around AI and employment is intensifying as automation encroaches into areas once considered immune — legal research, marketing, customer support, and even software development. A recent report from the World Economic Forum estimates that AI could displace 85 million jobs globally by 2025, while creating 97 million new ones.
Pichai believes the key lies in proactive adaptation. “We must invest in people — in education, in training, and in policies that support a smooth transition,” he said.
Alphabet’s own workforce is being reshaped by AI. The company is retraining thousands of employees in AI fundamentals, and offering internal bootcamps and certifications to help staff transition into emerging roles.
Not everyone is convinced by Pichai’s optimism. Labor advocates argue that tech companies are not doing enough to support workers at risk of displacement. Others point out that the benefits of AI often concentrate in wealthier nations and among highly skilled professionals.
“There’s a real risk of deepening inequality if we don’t have deliberate strategies to include everyone,” said Dr. Shannon Roberts, a labor economist at the University of Toronto.
Beyond the corporate strategy, Alphabet’s AI push has wide-reaching implications for education, healthcare, creative industries, and public policy. Pichai emphasized the need for global cooperation. “We want to work with governments, universities, and civil society to make sure AI helps humanity, not just shareholders,” he noted.
In recent months, Alphabet has participated in international discussions on AI governance, including the AI Safety Summit hosted in the UK and multilateral initiatives through the OECD.
Despite short-term uncertainties, Pichai’s message was clear: the AI era is not just coming — it’s here. And Alphabet is betting big on its transformative power.
“We’re just scratching the surface,” he said. “This is going to be a decade of deep and profound change, and I believe it can be one of the most exciting chapters in technology.”
As AI continues to reshape everything from search engines to job markets, Pichai is urging a mix of realism and ambition. “Let’s be thoughtful, but let’s not lose sight of what’s possible.”
For more on how AI is changing the future of work and technology, visit TechCrunch’s AI coverage.
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