Google CEO Sundar Pichai: ChatGPT-like tools will make software programming more accessible, create new roles

As new AI tools like ChatGPT and Bard gain popularity, concerns have arisen over whether these tools will replace human software engineers. However, Google CEO Sundar Pichai believes that these tools will make programming more accessible to many, leading to the creation of new roles in the future.

In a podcast with The New York Times, Pichai addressed the fear of software engineers losing their jobs to AI. He stated, “I believe there will be a lot of societal adaptation with this one. And as part of that, we may all need to alter our paths.”

Pichai highlighted the positive aspects of generative AI tools, stating that “some of the menial labour you do as part of programming will improve,” and programming will become more enjoyable. He believes that collaborative IDs with built-in assistance will make programming easier and more accessible.

When asked about OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Pichai said he was not surprised by its success. He added that Google’s Bard will soon expand with more capable models, such as Pathways Language Model (PaLM), which will bring more capabilities in reasoning, coding, and math problem-solving.

However, Pichai acknowledged that AI development is moving too fast and “perhaps poses a threat to society.” He also emphasized the importance of not releasing more capable models until they can be handled well.

In summary, Pichai believes that AI tools like ChatGPT and Bard will not replace human software engineers but rather make programming more accessible and create new roles in the future.