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Sundar Pichai and Google's Stance on AI Ethics

By P.C Portelli

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Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, has become known as a “peacetime” leader thanks to his efforts to de-escalate the growing tension between tech companies and governments over artificial intelligence (AI). However, recently he has been facing criticism for not taking a stronger stance on the AI war. 

The debate around AI has been heating up in recent years due to the rapid advancement of technology and its potential implications for humanity. Countries like China have already begun investing heavily in AI research and development, while other tech giants are racing to keep up with the competition. As such, governments have become increasingly concerned about the potential misuse of AI by malicious actors and are pushing tech companies to be more proactive in protecting users' data privacy. 

Google’s response thus far has been relatively muted compared to its rivals. While Amazon and Microsoft have both come out strongly in favor of regulating AI, Google’s leadership has mostly stayed quiet. Pichai himself has been criticized for his lack of action on this issue, with some suggesting that he is putting corporate interests ahead of ethical ones. 

However, Pichai has also taken steps to demonstrate Google's commitment to responsible use of AI. Last year, he released a set of ethical guidelines for artificial intelligence use within the company which include limiting bias in algorithm design as well as requiring transparency about how data is used. He also recently announced plans to invest $25 million into research projects aimed at developing fairness and safety measures for AI technology. 

 

Ultimately, it remains unclear whether these measures will be enough to address the ethical concerns associated with artificial intelligence or if they are just window dressing designed to appease critics while allowing Google's core business model to remain largely unchanged. With tensions already running high between governments and tech giants over this issue, it might take more than just words from Sundar Pichai if Google wants to be seen as a responsible player in this rapidly changing landscape.

March 4 2023

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