Google Seeks to Shape Public Perception and Policy on Artificial Intelligence
Alphabet’s Google is facing an unprecedented regulatory onslaught, and is looking to shape public perception and policies on artificial intelligence ahead of a global wave of AI regulation. The company is prioritizing building out educational programs to train the workforce on AI, according to Kent Walker, Alphabet’s president of global affairs.
“It’s a virtuous cycle,” Walker said. “Getting more people and organizations, including governments, familiar with AI and using AI tools, makes for better AI policy and opens up new opportunities.”
Google is also seeking to increase public awareness and understanding of AI, and to mitigate concerns about job displacement. The company has announced a $120 million investment fund to build AI education programs, and is partnering with governments and other organizations to develop training programs and certifications.
The company is also looking to public-private partnerships to address the challenges of AI, and is already working on several initiatives, including a program to provide training for workers in the skilled trades.
In the long term, Google expects a small fraction of existing jobs to be entirely displaced by AI, with the majority of jobs incorporating AI in some way. The company is hiring economists and other experts to study the impacts of AI on the workforce, and is seeking to develop new training programs that incorporate immersive and interactive elements, such as virtual reality and simulation.
Google’s efforts to shape the narrative around AI are part of a broader strategy to improve public perception of the company and to mitigate the risk of regulatory backlash. As the company faces significant regulatory scrutiny in areas such as advertising and search, it is looking to demonstrate its commitment to responsible use of AI and to promote a more positive public perception of the technology.
