Developers might not be thrilled to hear that Google is now using artificial intelligence to generate 25% of its code. Even though these AI-generated lines are checked by engineers, it marks a significant step in the software production strategy of the American tech giant.
AI as a Performance Tool for Google
During the announcement of the financial results for the third quarter of 2024, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, highlighted the role of AI in the company’s operations. Alphabet, Google’s parent company, reported revenues of $88.3 billion, with $76.5 billion coming from Google services, showing a year-on-year growth of 13%. Google Cloud revenues increased by 35%, reaching $11.4 billion. Pichai pointed out that AI is enhancing team efficiency by speeding up code development.
AI is Everywhere at Google
The use of AI at Google is becoming more diverse and is now ubiquitous. In its search engine, AI provides advanced personalization features. Google Meet now includes automatic note-taking capabilities. YouTube also leverages generative tools to assist creators in producing summaries and titles. The Pixel 9, the latest smartphone generation, incorporates numerous AI functions, which are largely popular among users, according to Google. These innovations demonstrate how AI is helping Google to boost user engagement and attract new customers, particularly through Google Cloud.
Google has opted for an internal development approach for its AI, unlike Microsoft, which has partnered with OpenAI. The company continues to restructure its AI teams, for instance, transferring the development of the Gemini app to its specialized subsidiary, DeepMind. This internal organization is part of a long-term strategy to make AI a central pillar of its operations, though as noted, the AI-generated work remains under the supervision of engineers to ensure the security and reliability of the code.
Future Prospects for Google
However, Google faces several challenges. In August last year, the U.S. Department of Justice initiated proceedings against the company, accusing it of monopolizing search and advertising markets. A verdict that could potentially lead to a breakup of Google is still pending. Additionally, there are ongoing concerns about the security and ethics of AI-generated code. Google must ensure that the expansion of AI in its development processes adheres to stringent standards and complies with regulations and expectations of regulatory bodies.
Regardless, the AI train at Google is indeed moving full speed ahead.
Hi, my name is Disha and I’m a passionate writer and editor at “Jason Deegan”. With a keen interest in all things tech, I strive to bring you the latest news and updates from the world of high-tech.