Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian has offered a more optimistic take on artificial intelligence, stating that it will augment jobs rather than replace them. This message eases fears about tech layoffs as AI adoption accelerates across industries.
Speaking to Big Technology, Kurian said AI’s role is to “enhance human capabilities rather than replace people outright,” arguing that there’s “a middle ground” between hype and panic around automation.
Kurian talked about Google’s Customer Engagement Suite as an example of AI creating new opportunities instead of eliminating them. The AI-powered platform, launched last year, automates routine customer queries that people often skip, allowing human agents to focus on complex cases. “Almost none of our clients have let anyone go,” Kurian said, adding that AI is helping businesses handle a wider range of tasks without shrinking teams.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that Kurian is not alone. Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently stated that AI tools have increased engineer productivity by about 10 percent, with plans to expand hiring rather than cut staff. Over 30 percent of new code written at Google is now AI-generated, yet the company continues to grow its technical workforce.
