According to Paul Buchheit, the creator of Gmail, Google fell behind in the AI arms race due to a combination of factors. Firstly, the company’s focus shifted towards advertising and monetization, deviating from its core mission of organizing the world’s information. Secondly, Google’s bureaucracy and aversion to risk hindered its ability to innovate rapidly in AI. Thirdly, the company’s ethical AI principles, while well-intentioned, slowed down its progress compared to competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic, who were more willing to take risks. Buchheit argues that Google’s cautious approach allowed others to surpass it in AI capabilities, and the company now faces an uphill battle to regain its leadership position in the field.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/why-google-fell-behind-in-ai-arms-race-gmail-creator-2024-8