Google CEO says no innovation has made him “dream bigger” than artificial intelligence
February 19, 2026: Sundar Pichai on Thursday described artificial intelligence as a defining technological shift, unlike anything seen in modern history. Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit, the Google CEO said no previous innovation had expanded his sense of possibility in the same way. He characterised AI as the engine of an era of “hyper progress,” with the potential to accelerate scientific discovery, transform economies and reshape public services at scale.
Pichai highlighted AI’s role as a foundational technology capable of unlocking breakthroughs across sectors such as healthcare, climate modelling and education. He noted that emerging economies could use AI to leapfrog traditional development stages, compressing years of gradual progress into shorter timeframes. However, he cautioned that unless infrastructure and access gaps are addressed, the benefits of AI may not be evenly distributed, warning against the emergence of a new “AI divide.”
Emphasising responsibility and trust, Pichai called for collaboration among governments, businesses and innovators. He said tools like SynthID are helping verify digital content authenticity, but stressed that cooperation is essential to realise AI’s full potential. Governments, he added, must act both as regulators setting safeguards and as innovators integrating AI into public services. For Pichai, AI is not an incremental upgrade but a transformative force capable of redefining what humanity can achieve.