‘Best outcomes of AI are not guaranteed’: Sundar Pichai calls for ‘bold’ but ‘responsible’ approach

Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Thursday urged governments and technology leaders to pursue artificial intelligence “boldly” but “responsibly”, warning that the best outcomes of the AI revolution are “neither guaranteed nor automatic”.

Addressing world leaders at the India AI Impact Summit in the national capital, Pichai described AI as “the biggest platform shift of our lifetimes” and said the world stood on the cusp of “hyperprogress” that could help emerging economies leapfrog legacy gaps.

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“But that outcome is neither guaranteed nor automatic,” he said. “To build AI that is truly helpful for everyone, we must pursue it boldly, approach it responsibly and work through this defining moment together.”

Also Read: AI-India Impact Summit: Sundar Pichai says, ‘Vizag emerging as global AI hub with Google’s $15B investment’

‘Act bold’ in science, health and inclusion

Pichai pointed to breakthroughs such as AlphaFold, developed by Google DeepMind, which solved the decades-long challenge of predicting protein structures. The system, now used by millions of researchers globally, has accelerated work on malaria vaccines and antibiotic resistance.

He also cited AI-powered healthcare partnerships in El Salvador and weather forecasting tools deployed in India to help farmers prepare for monsoon patterns. Last summer, the Indian government sent AI-based forecasts to millions of farmers, supported in part by Google’s Neural GCM model.

Calling AI a driver of scientific discovery, he said companies were exploring everything from cataloguing DNA disease markers to building AI agents that assist researchers.

Read my full remarks: https://t.co/B4TQUaIHzJ

— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) February 19, 2026

Also Read: PM Modi unveils ‘MANAV’ vision for AI evolution at AI Impact Summit

‘Be responsible’ to prevent an AI divide

Pichai cautioned against allowing the digital divide to become an “AI divide”, stressing the need for infrastructure, connectivity, and workforce training.

Google, he said, is investing USD 15 billion in infrastructure in India, including a full-stack AI hub in Visakhapatnam. The company is also expanding subsea cable connectivity between the US and India.

He acknowledged AI would reshape the workforce but said new roles would emerge, citing the rise of YouTube creators as an example of unexpected career paths.

Trust, he added, would be critical, pointing to tools such as SynthID to verify digital content.

“Now we must do the work, together,” Pichai said, urging collaboration between governments, companies and innovators.