‘Preserving Search Monopoly’: Gmail Creator Cite Reasons Why Disruptive AI Took A Backseat At Google

Google was envisioned to be an AI firm when it was launched by its cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 1998, Paul Buchheit, the creator of Gmail, shared in a Y Combinator Startup YouTube podcast, according to Business Insider. The remarks of the Gmail creator weigh even more today with Google experimenting around ways to implement AI across products at a faster rate than ever.

Years into operations, the company managed to amass volumes of data and resources and workforce. However, Google’s AI initiatives may prove less attractive to users compared to the competition. But what led to these conditions in the business? As per Buchheit, the tech giant could have moved off-track after the reorganisation under Alphabet (Google’s parent company) in 2015.

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As a result of the overhaul, Sundar Pichai, current CEO of Google, was moved in a lead role and the company rejigged its priorities to preserve its search engine lead (which hampered fiery AI experiments) Buchheit noted. The Gmail creator also said search is a “gold mine” and “valuable” and AI is “inherently disruptive technology”. He also noted direct interactions with a chatbot disincentivise people from clicking ads, which was the business model of search.

According to Buchheit, AI has the potential to disrupt the ads business of search with its simple answers. Plus, introducing AI heavily could have lead to issues around hallucinations as it could spill out offensive things. The associated risks led Google to adopt a conservative approach towards AI. He also said OpenAI was among the reasons why Google had to jump into the AI space and shift innovation gears rapidly.

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Google has been experimenting with big updates around AI in recent years. However, the company faces the heat of severe competition from OpenAI and Microsoft which has led the company to push products at a rapid pace. Some of these faced backlash after launch, including Google Bard and AI Overviews in the early days.