Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently shared his vision for a groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) initiative, comparing it to the famous Manhattan Project during World War II. His comments came during an interview with Semafor on Thursday night, where he hinted at opportunities for national collaboration after President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House next month.
“I believe there’s a real chance for us, as a country, to work together on something significant,” Pichai said. “Big infrastructure projects that speed up progress are something we’d be very excited about.”
This idea aligns with a recommendation made last month by the bipartisan U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC). The commission suggested a similar program to fund AI development as part of the U.S.’s efforts to stay ahead of China in the tech race.
“China has been heavily investing in emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing, biotechnology, and battery storage,” the USCC report stated. “The United States recognizes this competition and has adjusted its policies to stay competitive.”
Google recently launched a new version of its AI model, Gemini 2.0, which is designed to compete with AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The upgraded model boasts improved capabilities, including native image and audio output, making it a step closer to Pichai’s vision of a “universal assistant.”
“With Gemini 2.0, we’re creating the foundation for AI agents that can do much more,” Pichai said in a statement. “The progress we’re making is going to feel very real.”
In the same interview, Pichai expressed confidence in Google’s current AI models. “They’re already very capable, and we can build so many use cases on top of them,” he said.
Sundar Pichai Expecting New AI Role in Trump Administration
Earlier this month, President-elect Trump announced the appointment of venture capitalist and ally David Sacks to a new position as the White House’s AI and cryptocurrency czar. This newly created role underscores the administration’s focus on emerging technologies.
Pichai, like other tech leaders, is seeking to strengthen ties with Trump following his recent election victory. According to reports, Pichai was expected to meet with the president-elect on Thursday.
Reflecting on Google’s journey in AI, Pichai said, “Back in 2015, we set the company on an AI-first path. This included full-stack work, from research and infrastructure to hardware. That’s the foundation we’ve built to get where we are today.”
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