Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Google’s parent company Alphabet, has cautioned the public against relying solely on artificial intelligence tools for accurate information. In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Pichai described AI models as “prone to errors” and stressed the importance of using them alongside other resources.
“This is why people also use Google search, and we have other products that are more grounded in providing accurate information,” Pichai said, highlighting the role of a diverse information ecosystem. He added that AI can be helpful for creative tasks but urged users not to “blindly trust everything they say.”
The warning comes amid ongoing concerns over the reliability of generative AI products, such as chatbots, which sometimes produce misleading or false information. Google has faced criticism over its AI Overviews feature, which summarizes search results, with some users noting erratic or inaccurate responses.
Experts argue that the responsibility for accuracy should remain with tech companies rather than consumers. Gina Neff, professor of responsible AI at Queen Mary University of London, told BBC Radio 4 that AI systems often generate answers to please users, which can be problematic for sensitive queries about health, science, or news. “The company now is asking to mark their own exam paper while they’re burning down the school,” she said, urging Google to take greater responsibility for the outputs of its AI products.
Pichai also addressed the launch of Google’s consumer AI model, Gemini 3.0, which has been integrated into the company’s search engine. The model allows users to interact with the Gemini chatbot as though consulting an expert. He described the integration as a “new phase of the AI platform shift” and a step to maintain competitiveness against rivals such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Earlier this year, research by the BBC found that AI chatbots—including ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and Perplexity AI—produced summaries of news stories containing “significant inaccuracies.” Pichai acknowledged that rapid technological development can outpace safeguards, saying Alphabet aims to balance being “bold and responsible at the same time.”
He highlighted Google’s increased investment in AI security alongside its broader AI initiatives. This includes open-source tools designed to detect AI-generated images and mitigate potential misuse of the technology.
Pichai also responded to past concerns from Elon Musk about AI concentration, stating that no single company should control such powerful technology. He said today’s AI ecosystem includes multiple players, reducing the risk of monopoly over AI development.
Despite acknowledging the limitations of current AI systems, Pichai expressed confidence in their potential when used responsibly, emphasizing the need for users to verify AI-generated content and supplement it with trusted sources.