PICHAI: AI 'MORE PROFOUND THAN FIRE OR ELECTRICITY'
“Many years ago, I think it might've been 2017 or 2018, I said at the time, AI is the most profound technology humanity will ever work on. It'll be more profound than fire or electricity. So, I have to back myself. I still think that's the case.”
Pichai restating — and recommitting to — his 2018 line on the Lex Fridman Podcast. File the verified 2025 restatement with its 'I said at the time' framing; the 2018 MSNBC original is unverified (secondary wordings differ) and is cited only as background, never merged.
SOURCE
ORIGINAL SOURCESundar Pichai: Google CEO | Lex Fridman Podcast #471 (transcript)lexfridman.com (timestamp 00:15:08)