SAN FRANCISCO — Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has warned that no company, including Google itself, would be safe if the ongoing artificial intelligence investment AI bubble were to burst, amid growing fears of overvaluation in the tech sector.
Speaking to the BBC, Pichai admitted there was “irrationality” surrounding the rapid surge in AI-driven investments, which has fueled a powerful tech rally throughout the year. However, recent global concerns have triggered selloffs, dragging stock markets down in the past few months.
Asked whether Google would be affected if the speculative AI boom collapses, Pichai responded, “I think no company is going to be immune, including us.”
Rising Energy Demands Pose Major Challenge
Pichai highlighted the “immense” energy consumption of artificial intelligence. According to the International Energy Agency, AI accounted for 1.5% of global electricity use last year. By 2030, global AI computing demands could reach 200 gigawatts — equivalent to Brazil’s annual energy consumption, with half expected to be in the United States.
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He warned that escalating geopolitical tensions and the race to build massive data centers — each housing tens of thousands of high-performance chips — are straining global power infrastructure.
Climate Goals Likely to Face Delays
The Alphabet chief acknowledged that the company’s climate commitments may face delays due to rising AI energy needs, but stressed that the target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 still stands.
AI’s Impact on Jobs and Leadership
Pichai reiterated concerns about AI’s disruptive impact on the job market. He said AI tools could reshape nearly every profession and may even “potentially replace CEOs” in the future.
However, he stressed that adaptation is key:
“The people who will do well in every profession are the ones who learn how to use these tools.”
Alphabet’s Record Revenue Amid AI Surge
In October, Alphabet reported its first-ever $100 billion quarterly revenue, boosted by increasing demand for AI-powered products and infrastructure. The company has also accelerated global deployment of AI features in Google Search and expanded capabilities within its Gemini AI models.
