Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has warned the public not to “blindly trust” AI tools, noting that they are “prone to errors.” In an exclusive interview with the BBC, he stressed that AI should be used alongside other resources to ensure accuracy.
“This is why people also use Google Search, and we have other products that are more grounded in providing accurate information,” Pichai said, emphasizing that AI is best suited for creative tasks rather than critical decision-making.
Experts, however, say tech companies need to take more responsibility for the reliability of their AI systems. Gina Neff, professor of responsible AI at Queen Mary University of London, told BBC Radio 4: “The company now is asking to mark their own exam paper while they’re burning down the school.”
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Pichai’s remarks coincide with Google’s rollout of its consumer AI model, Gemini 3.0, which is now integrated into search through a new “AI Mode.” He described the integration as a “new phase of the AI platform shift,” part of Google’s efforts to compete with services like ChatGPT.
Acknowledging the challenges of rapid AI development, Pichai said companies must balance innovation with safeguards. “We are moving fast through this moment. I think our consumers are demanding it,” he said, adding that Alphabet is investing in AI security, including tools to detect AI-generated images.
On concerns over concentration of AI power, Pichai stressed: “If there was only one company which was building AI technology and everyone else had to use it, I would be concerned about that too, but we are so far from that scenario right now.”