Google Chief Executive Declares AI as Greatest Technology Shift of Our Time

In a landmark speech at the AI Action Summit in Paris, Alphabet’s chief executive Sundar Pichai emphasised artificial intelligence as the most significant technological transformation of our era, positioning it as a catalyst for human innovation.

The timing of Pichai’s declaration comes amid market turbulence triggered by Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek’s recent announcement of a cost-effective, open-source AI assistant. This development sparked a substantial market correction, temporarily diminishing the valuations of major technology firms, including Alphabet.

Despite recent market volatility, Pichai remains steadfast in Google’s commitment to AI development, announcing a substantial £75 billion capital investment programme for 2025, predominantly focused on AI infrastructure. The Google chief highlighted the democratisation of AI technology, predicting declining costs would accelerate adoption across private and public sectors.

Addressing societal concerns, Pichai cautioned against the emergence of an “AI divide” whilst offering a measured perspective on technological advancement. He drew from personal experience, noting how initial resistance to educational technology had not hindered younger generations’ development.

The announcement follows Alphabet’s recent financial results, which revealed cloud computing revenue growth of 30 per cent to £12 billion in the fourth quarter, falling short of analyst expectations of 33 per cent growth. This performance contributed to an 8 per cent decline in Alphabet’s share price over the past week.

Market response to Pichai’s vision remains measured, with Alphabet shares trading marginally higher at £188.51, representing a 0.7 per cent increase during New York trading hours.