Google CEO Sundar Pichai declared artificial intelligence (AI) as “the most transformative technology yet,” outlining its potential to foster sustainable development across the globe at the UN Summit of the Future.
Pichai identified four critical opportunities for AI: improving access to information in various languages, accelerating scientific discovery, enhancing climate disaster response and driving economic progress.
While stressing AI's benefits, Pichai acknowledged the associated risks, such as the emergence of deep fakes, and expressed concern about the widening gap in AI access between different regions. To combat this issue, he announced the establishment of a USD 120 million Global AI Opportunity Fund, which aims to provide education and training in AI to communities worldwide through collaborations with local nonprofits and NGOs.
Pichai also urged for “smart product regulation” to address the challenges posed by AI while cautioning against national protectionist measures that could hinder its benefits.