Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, said he believes the idea of a free and open internet is under attack in many parts of the world. Speaking to the BBC, he said that limiting and controlling the flow of knowledge was more of a given than an anomaly.
Mr. Pichai used to claim that “free and open networks are the foundation.” The interview seemed to draw comparisons to China’s authoritarian control of the internet, but Mr. Pichai simply replied that key services and products are not in China.
Other Google employees interviewed by the BBC described Pichai as a thoughtful executive and someone who is genuinely looking to set an example. He is an idealist, they said. This was especially true of the transformative nature of his expertise on issues such as increasing residency requirements.
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Pichai also made it clear that the responsibility for leading the network should not rest with one person, but with a collective think tank that would chart the future direction, leaving room for the main pillars of a free network.
Absence Of Binding Legal Guidelines
In the absence of binding legal guidelines under international law, it is up to the major companies to set the future direction, but the problem is that not all companies seem to agree on the true path forward.
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, said that the free and open web is under attack around the world, arguing that some international outlets limit the flow of knowledge, which is often considered a right.
In an in-depth interview with the BBC at Google’s headquarters in Silicon Valley, California, he discussed a number of topics, including the risks of a free and open internet, and highlighted two developments he believes will revolutionize the world in the next quarter century: synthetic intelligence (AI) and quantum computing, were at the center of the event.
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Asked about the existence of a growing Chinese-language web model, primarily for surveillance, he said, “Our core services and products are not in China. He also said that the responsibility for setting the direction of internet development should not rest with one person, but that “a collective think tank should chart the way forward, leaving room for the core principles of a free internet.”
Pichai
Pichai, 49, was born in Tamil Nadu and raised in Chennai, but says India is deeply rooted in his heart and is a big part of his essence.” I am an American citizen, but India is deeply rooted in my heart. So, it’s a big part of who I am,” he said when asked about his roots.
Referring to the debate over taxes, privacy and information, he argued that synthetic intelligence makes more sense than fire, electricity and the internet.” I think it [synthetic intelligence] is essentially the most profound experience that people will ever be able to develop or explore. If you look at fire, electricity and the web, it’s there. But I think it’s much deeper than that,” he said.
He added: “We’re one of the biggest taxpayers in the world, and if you look at the averages over the last 10 years, it turns out we pay over 20 percent in taxes. We pay the vast majority of our taxes in the U.S., where we’re from and where we’ve developed our products. I think there’s a good dialogue going on, and we’re helping the OECD around the world have a dialogue about what’s the right way to distribute taxes, but it’s not something that companies can decide.
When asked about his personal technology habits, he encouraged everyone to use “two-factor authentication” passwords to provide some protection, and admitted that he is constantly switching phones to test new knowledge.