Sundar Pichai: The Man Behind Google’s AI Growth

The Alphabet Inc. company, Google, is a universal search engine platform that gives the answer to your questions and lists the websites for that, but most of this credit goes to Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google.

Pichai has been working at Google for more than two decades and has transformed the journey of Google, especially in the era of artificial intelligence, which has had a significant impact on all companies. In the era of AI, the search engine browser Google has also adopted a change in its search mode based on AI, under the leadership of Sundar Pichai. 

Pichai is a very smart and talented Indian who has dealt with the workings of Google during the peak era of artificial intelligence.

In this article, we will explore the contribution of Sundar Pichai to Google, especially in the era of AI, and how it transformed the way of searching for information. 

Highlights of Sundar Pichai

Sundar Pichai: About

Sundar Pichai is a well-known tech leader who is currently serving as CEO of Alphabet Inc. His journey in the technology industry began with a role as a leadership advisor at McKinsey and Company, after which he started at Google in 2004.

At Google, Pichai quickly rose in rank, maintaining original product management and innovation for major software products such as Google Chrome, ChromeOS, and Google Drive. One of his most important milestones came in 2010, when he announced open source for the VP8 Video Codec and introduced a new video format, WebM, to increase web media delivery.

Pichai’s leadership skills and strategic vision led him to be appointed in 2015 as CEO of Google after the creation of Alphabet Inc. as a new Google holding structure for Google’s expansion companies. Their influence continued to grow, and in 2017, he was also appointed to the board of Alphabet and united his role as a central person in the global technical industry.

Professional Career of Sundar Pichai

Sundar Pichai pursued engineering and product management at Applied Materials before stepping into management consulting at McKinsey & Company. He entered Google in 2004 to oversee product management and innovation for important software products such as Google Chrome, ChromeOS, and Google Drive; he later worked on Gmail and Google Maps, too. He was at the forefront of launching ChromeOS in 2009 and bringing Chromebooks into the marketplace in 2012. Android then became part of his portfolio in 2013, further conferring on him his stature within Google.

Sundar notably worked on creating Google’s search toolbar, a tool that massively increased end-user engagement before merging with Google Chrome; Chrome is today counted among the world’s most popular browsers. He also worked on Google Pack and Google Gears while serving as the Board of Advisors at Ruba Inc. and leading Jiva Software from 2011 to 2013. Although Sundar was shortlisted as one of the candidates for the foundational CEO role at Microsoft in 2014, it was ultimately bestowed upon Satya Nadella. 

In 2015, Sundar became the CEO of Google, and upon the formation of Alphabet Inc., he took on the CEO role of Alphabet in 2019. His leadership has been a recognised title, and by 2022, Pichai’s compensation rose above $200 million, marking him as one of the most influential persons in global technology.

Sundar Pichai & Future Concept of AI in Google

Google is working towards developing a more advanced search system, for which Pichai said that AI-powered search won’t kill the web; instead, it will become more conversational.

Here is what Pichai said: “We have a comprehensive view of how we look at data across the board. There can be a lot of noise in search data, but everything we see tells us that we are seeing query growth, including across Apple’s devices and platforms. Specifically, I think we quantified the query growth from AI Overviews. And what’s healthy is that the query growth is continuing to grow over time.”

Future AI Products of Google

In 2025, Google is going to launch its AI-based products, such as NotebookLM Plus and Gemini 2.0. Google is enhancing its capability in its search system with these products, which are lined up for the Google I/O event, which is likely to take place in the month of May.

In a mail to his employee, Pichai said, “products and features [Google is] rolling out in the next few months.” In a nutshell, he said that the company’s progress is amazing. 

He also stated that this year, 2025, is a very important year for the company; further, he gives pressure to increase their effort and attention in artificial intelligence and regulatory issues. The company is facing tough competition and regulatory pressure. 

Google’s New AI Search Mode

Sundar Pichai revealed a huge new feature called Overview at Google I/O 2025, which intends to change the way users interact with the search results. Advanced AI generates a summary of complex topics so that users can get the correct answer without clicking on multiple links. It is probably an offer to make a more comfortable and effective discovery with artificial intelligence. 

With the overview, Pichai emphasised the extensive vision of integrating AI-generated content into Google’s products: From increasing the discovery to creative equipment, the company is committed to making information more accessible and individual. This step is an indication of how competition in the AI ​​room is increasing, especially with a boom of equipment that chatting has already disrupted how we want information and processes the process.

By observing information and other AI-operated features, Google emphasises that it wants to make people intelligent and fast to create ways to get people into the far-reaching digital world.

Google’s Gemini: A New Model

Google’s Gemini launch is an important milestone in the competitive landscape with artificial intelligence. Gemini was introduced as Google’s most advanced AI model and is seen as a sharp reaction to the rapid growth of normal AI tools such as ChatGPT. Complex logic, multimodal input (lessons, images, audio, and video), and designed to handle advanced code generation, Gemini AI shows its commitment to Google’s strength and innovation to be ahead of the AI innovation.

Gemini is not just a technical achievement—it represents a strategic return to Google in the AI ​​race. OpenAI and Microsoft confirmed after the first headings that Google’s status was as a global AI leader. 

Integrated into Google Search, WordPress, and Android, user experiences already use size by offering smart, faster, and more reference-improvement aids.

Gemini is quickly developing in the AI ​​era and stands as a bold statement from Google: not just to compete to lead.

Controversies: Sundar Pichai

Over the years, Sundar Pichai has found himself at the centre of several controversies while leading Google. In 2017, he faced criticism after firing a Google employee who wrote a lengthy memo questioning the company’s diversity policies. The move sparked debates about free speech and workplace inclusivity. That same year, Pichai spoke at the World Internet Conference in China, where his comments about supporting Chinese small businesses raised eyebrows given the country’s strict censorship policies.

In 2018, he was summoned before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee to respond to concerns about political bias in Google’s search results, privacy practices, and potential plans to launch a censored search engine in China. Pichai denied any political influence or censorship intentions.

In 2024, Google terminated 28 employees protesting against Project Nimbus, a military-related cloud project. Pichai responded by stating that the workplace shouldn’t be used for activism. In 2025, Google faced backlash for scaling back its diversity and cultural programs, such as Pride Month and Black History Month, in response to political pressures, further fueling controversy over the company’s shifting stance on inclusion.

These moments highlight the complexities and challenges Sundar Pichai navigates as the head of one of the world’s most powerful tech companies.

Sundar Pichai: Awards 

Sundar Pichai is one of the most influential people in the world, who is also included in Time’s Annual List of the 100 Most Influential People in 2016 & 2020. He is also a prominent member in the world of technology, especially AI, and hence he comes in the Time 100 AI List in 2024. 

The Indian government also conferred upon him the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to the trade and industry segment.

Conclusion

Sundar Pichai is an all-time blockbuster at Google, and he is following a year of struggling with artificial intelligence and transforming the search engine’s way of searching for information. Sundar Pichai has contributed enough to the company and achieved success in these two decades. Under these guiding years, the company has passed through different struggles and faced regulatory decisions. 

Overall, the company has achieved great success under the supervision of Sundar Pichai and has gone through several ups and downs. Currently, the AI is working great to transform the search system of the search engines.