Google CEO Sundar Pichai Says AI Will Advance Humanity in These 4 Key Ways Pichai said studies show that AI could boost global labor productivity by 1.4 percentage points and increase global GDP by 7 points within the next decade.

By Lakshmi Varanasi

Key Takeaways

  • Google CEO Sundar Pichai spoke about AI's potential at the UN's Summit of the Future.
  • Pichai said AI will help sustainable development, scientific discovery, and climate action.
  • Google's AI initiatives include expanding Google Translate, Alphafold, and disaster prediction systems.
Mateusz Wlodarczyk/NurPhoto | Getty Images via Business Insider
Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

This article originally appeared on Business Insider.

Big Tech companies like Google are betting that AI technology will help them earn billions in profits, and they're funneling tons of resources toward the technology.

But this rush to cash in on AI raises questions about who will take the spoils: Are we moving toward a future where everyone thrives, or one where the rich get richer, and the poor remain stagnant?

Google's CEO Sundar Pichai thinks we're headed to a better, more equitable world.

At the Summit of the Future on Saturday, where world leaders gathered at the UN headquarters in New York to discuss AI and other topics, Pichai made a powerful case for AI's benefits. He articulated four key areas where AI could further the UN's sustainable development goals, 17 goals that comprise a "shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet," according to the UN.

Accessing knowledge in their native language

Pichai said that over the past year, Google has added 110 new languages to Google Translate and is working toward 1,000 of the world's most spoken languages.

Accelerating scientific discovery

In May, Google announced Alphafold 3, a model developed by Google DeepMind and Isomorphic Labs that could accurately predict the structure of proteins, DNA, RNA, and ligands, and presented a novel breakthrough in drug discovery.

Since then, Google has made Alphafold free to use, and it has been accessed by over 2 million researchers in over 190 countries, 30% of which are in the developing world, Pichai said. "Globally Alphafold is being used in research that could help make crops more resistant to disease, discover new drugs in areas like malaria vaccines, and cancer treatments, and much more."

Mitigating climate disaster

Pichai said Google's Flood Hub system provides early warnings on climate disasters up to seven days in advance and protects over 460 million people in 80 countries. Google's boundary tracking systems for wildfires are also already in 22 countries. Earlier this month, Google also announced FireSat, "a new global satellite constellation designed specifically to detect and track wildfires the size of a classroom within 20 minutes."

AI gives these technologies "a boost in accuracy, speed, and scale," he said.

Contributing to economic progress

Pichai said studies show that AI could boost global labor productivity by 1.4 percentage points and increase global GDP by 7 points within the next decade.

Want to be an BIZ Experiences Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Starting a Business

These Brothers Started a Business to Improve an Everyday Task. They Made Their First Products in the Garage — Now They've Raised Over $100 Million.

Coulter and Trent Lewis had an early research breakthrough that helped them solve for the right problem.

Franchise

How to Prepare Your Business — And Yourself — For a Smooth Exit

After decades of building your business, turning it over to someone else can be emotional. But with the right mindset and a strong plan, it can also be your proudest moment.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for BIZ Experiencess to pursue in 2025.

Franchise

10 No-Office-Required Businesses You Can Start for as Little as $5,000

With strong Franchise 500 rankings and investment levels starting under $5,000, these brands are ready for new owners to hit the ground running.

Business News

Here Are the 10 Jobs AI Is Most Likely to Automate, According to a Microsoft Study

These careers are most likely to be affected by generative AI, based on data from 200,000 conversations with Microsoft's Copilot chatbot.