Short answer? Not at Alphabet — not in the way people fear.

Despite growing speculation that artificial intelligence could slash tech workforces in half, Pichai was clear: AI isn’t about cutting headcount. It’s about scaling capability. “I expect we will grow from our current engineering phase even into next year,” he said, explaining how AI is unlocking efficiency by automating repetitive tasks and letting engineers focus on higher-impact work. Instead of job losses, he positioned AI as an accelerator — enabling product innovation, not employee elimination.

Now, let’s not sugarcoat it. Alphabet hasn’t been immune to layoffs. 2023 saw 12,000 roles cut. 2024 brought another 1,000. Even this year, Google’s cloud and devices divisions saw smaller, more targeted reductions. But Pichai’s message was that these weren’t AI-led purges — they were part of broader business recalibrations, not mass automation.

Looking ahead, Pichai spotlighted the real engines of Alphabet’s future growth: Waymo’s autonomous vehicles, quantum computing R&D, and YouTube’s global momentum — with India alone boasting 100 million YouTube channels and 15,000 channels with over a million subs. Those numbers don’t just reflect scale; they represent ecosystems of creators, developers, and engineers needed to power and support them.

Still, Pichai didn’t dismiss the concerns around AI-driven disruption. When asked about Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s warning that AI could wipe out half of entry-level white-collar roles within five years, he responded thoughtfully: “I respect that… I think it’s important to voice those concerns and debate them.” This wasn’t a dodge — it was a recognition that the future needs collective navigation, not just corporate optimism.

And what about AGI — artificial general intelligence — the holy grail of AI? Will we ever get there? Pichai was cautiously optimistic. He said there’s a “lot of forward progress” being made, not just with current methods but also emerging experimental approaches. Still, he was real: “Are we currently on an absolute path to AGI? I don’t think anyone can say for sure.”

In typical Sundar fashion, the takeaway was balanced. Hopeful, but not hype-driven. Focused on scaling people, not replacing them. And most importantly — staying adaptable in an era defined by exponential change.