At the Bloomberg Global Business Forum in New York, Alphabet Chief Information Officer (CIO) Ruth Porat went into artificial intelligence’s exciting future while acknowledging the need for responsible development. Porat framed AI as a “generational” technology with far-reaching economic and social impacts.
“We do live in an extraordinary time in history,” Porat stated, pointing to AI’s projected economic boost of “$17 to $25 trillion per year” by 2030. Beyond financial gains, she noted AI’s potential to address critical issues “around health care, around education, around climate change.”
Porat spotlighted AI’s ability to accelerate scientific breakthroughs, referencing Google DeepMind’s protein-folding tool AlphaFold.
“Two million scientists are working on this, and the view is that will help them accelerate drug discovery,” she explained.
However, Porat stressed that realizing AI’s full potential requires a strong foundation.
“To maximise the upside, we collectively need to ensure that we have the base, the foundation, so that it is safe and execution around everything that ranges from information to job transition to how we use energy efficiently for the planet,” she said.
Porat outlined a three-pronged approach to responsibly advancing AI:
- Investing in deep technical infrastructure
- Expanding global access to information and markets
- Ensuring widespread skills development
She said Alphabet’s recent progress in breaking down language barriers, stating: “We are now serving people around the globe in 246 languages. We added 110 languages in the last six months alone, which means 500 million people on the planet can now access information in their own language.”
Porat praised the Biden administration’s “risk-based approach” to AI regulation, which recognizes AI’s diverse applications. She called for continued bipartisan collaboration on AI policy, underlining its critical importance.
When asked about AI’s energy demands, Porat acknowledged the challenge but expressed confidence in ongoing efficiency improvements. She highlighted Alphabet’s investments in renewable energy and advancements in both hardware and software, noting that model efficiency had increased by anywhere from 100 to 1,000 times.
Porat’s views give credence for a balanced approach that maximizes benefits while proactively addressing potential risks and challenges.
