HBR On Strategy

Alphabet CEO on AI as a Workplace Collaborator

Mar 19, 2025

Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google and Alphabet, discusses the transformative power of artificial intelligence in various industries. He highlights how generative AI, like Google's Gemini, is revolutionizing workplace collaboration. Pichai emphasizes the need for responsible AI development and safety measures as technology advances. He also addresses the evolving role of CEOs in a stakeholder-focused world and envisions AI's potential to enhance education, providing every child access to personalized AI tutoring.

29:03

Episode guests

Sundar Pichai

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Generative AI is revolutionizing workplace collaboration, enhancing productivity across various roles, from software engineering to financial analysis.

Sundar Pichai emphasizes the necessity of robust safety regulations and multi-stakeholder engagement to ensure responsible AI innovation.

Deep dives

The Role of AI Collaborators in the Workplace

Generative AI is increasingly integrated into workplaces as collaborative tools that enhance productivity. For instance, software engineers utilize AI in a pair programming context, demonstrating improved outcomes compared to individual efforts. Companies like Deutsche Bank have adopted these technologies, allowing AI to assist financial analysts in deriving insights, while radiologists benefit from AI helping to triage imaging pipelines. This trend underscores how AI can function as a supportive partner across various job roles, such as customer service agents who utilize AI chatbots to improve efficiency and service quality.

Intro

3min

AI as Workplace Collaborator

11min

Balancing Innovation and Safety in AI Regulation

4min

Adapting to Generative AI: Strategies for Workforce Resilience

7min

The Evolving Role of a CEO in a Stakeholder World

6min

The use of artificial intelligence—specifically generative AI—is growing rapidly, and tech giants like Google have an important role to play in how that technology gets adopted and developed. Sundar Pichai is the CEO of Google as well as its parent company Alphabet, which he’s led as an AI-first company for several years. He speaks with HBR Editor at Large Adi Ignatius about shaping Google’s AI strategy, putting safeguards in place, and how work and leadership will change as AI advances.

Key episode topics include: artificial intelligence, generative AI, innovation, technology, strategy

HBR On Strategy curates the best and conversations and case studies with the world’s top business and management experts, to help you unlock new ways of doing business. New episodes every week.

· Listen to the full HBR IdeaCast episode: Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai on Leadership, AI, and Big Tech

· Find more episodes of HBR IdeaCast

· Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org