Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently delivered a keynote address at a gathering for the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) — including the first ever “Summit of the Future”. During his keynote, he said technology can expand opportunities for people around the world. He gave his own example of how “technology improved our lives in meaningful ways”.
Noting he believes that technology is a foundational enabler of progress, Pichai said that AI is poised to accelerate progress just like the internet and mobile devices did.
“But first let me share why this is so important — to me personally, and to Google as a company,” Pichai noted.
He shared that when he grew up in Chennai, every piece of technology that arrived him and his family saved hours of travel as well as enabled them to spend more time with each other.
“Growing up in Chennai, India, with my family, the arrival of each new technology improved our lives in meaningful ways. Our first rotary phone saved us hours of travel to the hospital to get test results. Our first refrigerator gave us more time to spend as a family, rather than rushing to cook ingredients before they spoiled,” Pichai said.
Computer change Pichai’s “life the most”
Pichai highlighted that the technology that changed his life the most was the computer.
“I didn’t have much access to one growing up. When I came to graduate school in the US, there were labs full of machines I could use anytime I wanted — it was mind blowing. Access to computing inspired me to pursue a career where I could bring technology to more people,” he said.
As per Pichai, it was computers that led him to Google 20 years ago.
“I was excited by its mission: to organise the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful,” Pichai highlighted.
Google Search “has had incredible impact”
The Google CEO noted that “Google Search democratised information access, and opened up opportunities in education and entrepreneurship. Platforms like Chrome and Android helped bring one billion people online.”