AI will enter everyday work in next five years, says Google CEO Pichai

Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has predicted that artificial intelligence will move beyond laboratories and early adopters over the next five years, becoming a routine tool for professionals across sectors. In a video message marking 75 years of IIT Kharagpur, his alma mater, Pichai said AI would increasingly be used by healthcare workers, government officials, farmers, developers, and entrepreneurs.

"When I look at the next five years, I see AI moving away from the lab and the early adopters and into the hands of people doing the work," Pichai said. He added that the technology is being built to help people perform their jobs at a higher level and in a more fulfilling manner.

Pichai, who graduated from IIT Kharagpur in 1993 with a B.Tech in Metallurgical Engineering, spoke about India's growing role in global innovation. He noted that the country is increasingly creating solutions with worldwide impact and that universities are vital to ensuring AI benefits are widely shared.

"More and more, India is creating innovations that can benefit the whole world," he said, expressing confidence that the new generation of Indians can reimagine the country's potential. He stressed that AI can amplify this potential and that academic institutions are crucial to making the technology helpful for everyone.

IIT Kharagpur described the message as reflecting the global impact of the IIT ecosystem and the power of education and innovation to transform lives. Pichai, a distinguished alumnus, later studied at Stanford University and the Wharton School. He joined Google in 2004, worked on products like Chrome, became Google CEO in 2015, and took charge of Alphabet in 2019. Under his leadership, Google has centred its strategy on AI, including its Gemini models, across Search, Cloud, and other platforms.

Looking ahead, Pichai said the role of IIT Kharagpur would only grow in importance as it leads the next wave of technology.