At the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Google CEO Sundar Pichai unveiled a $120 million initiative aimed at expanding AI education and training globally. The initiative, in collaboration with nonprofits and NGOs, will provide resources in local languages, making AI education accessible to diverse communities worldwide.
Speaking at the first-ever “Summit of the Future” during UNGA, Pichai reflected on his childhood in Chennai, India, highlighting how the advent of technology transformed his life. “The technology that impacted me the most was the computer,” Pichai shared, adding that his experience with computing in the U.S. during graduate school fueled his passion to make technology more accessible.
Today, Google boasts over 15 products, including Search, Maps, and Drive, each serving more than 2 billion people and businesses. Pichai emphasized Google’s two-decade investment in AI research, tools, and infrastructure, citing examples like Google Translate, which now supports 246 languages, including 110 new ones added last year.
Studies suggest that AI could boost global labor productivity by 1.4 percentage points and raise global GDP by 7% within the next decade. Pichai noted how AI is already enhancing operations and logistics in emerging markets facing challenges like infrastructure and traffic congestion.
He underscored the importance of responsible AI development, guided by Google’s AI Principles established in 2018. Pichai also highlighted the company’s collaboration with organizations such as the UN, academia, and governments, including efforts like the Frontier Model Forum and the G7 Hiroshima Process, to ensure ethical AI deployment.
