In a recent interview, Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, addressed the burgeoning advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential impact on the future of work, even at the highest levels of corporate leadership. When asked if AI could one day replace a company's CEO, Pichai suggested that the role of a CEO might be "one of the easier things maybe for an AI to do one day".

Pichai's remarks come amidst a period of intense investment and excitement surrounding AI. He cautioned against "blindly trusting" AI models, emphasizing that they are "prone to errors". He noted that AI can be a useful tool for creative tasks but stressed the importance of using these tools judiciously and not relying on them unquestioningly.

Speaking at a Bloomberg's Tech conference in San Francisco earlier this year, Pichai envisioned that his successor would have "an extraordinary AI companion". This reflects Google's increasing integration of AI across its operations. Pichai views AI as a tool to amplify human productivity, rather than a direct replacement for human workers. He has personally experimented with AI coding tools, such as Cursor and Replit, to build custom webpages using simple prompts, which he refers to as "vibe coding". This hands-on approach underscores his belief that AI will fundamentally reshape how work is done, from basic tasks to executive responsibilities.

Pichai also cautioned against the "irrationality" that he believes has started to permeate the AI market, likening the current situation to the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s. While acknowledging the profound potential of AI, he noted the possibility of "excess investment" and cautioned that "no company is going to be immune" to a potential downturn. He drew parallels to the internet boom, stating that while there was significant overinvestment, no one questions the internet's profound impact. He expects AI to follow a similar trajectory.

Highlighting the energy demands of AI, Pichai noted the immense needs for new energy sources and expanded infrastructure to support AI growth. He acknowledged that these demands have already impacted Alphabet's climate ambitions, potentially slowing down the company's progress toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2030.

Pichai believes that AI will reshape every profession, requiring individuals to adapt and learn how to use AI tools effectively. He stated that professions like teaching and medicine will remain, but success in these fields will depend on mastering the use of AI tools.

Google's strategy involves maintaining control over a "full stack" of technologies, from chip design to AI models. This includes significant investments in AI infrastructure and research, such as the £5 billion (US$6.58 billion) investment in the UK.