Google’s Sundar Pichai says the job of CEO is one of the ‘easier things’ AI could soon replace
“I think what a CEO does is maybe one of the easier things maybe for an AI to do one day,” he said. Although he didn’t talk specifically about CEO functions that an AI could do better, Pichai noted the tech will eliminate some jobs but also “evolve and transition” others—ramifications that mean “people will need to adapt.”
Pichai’s comments come as other tech CEOs have also predicted the coming of a new era of chief executive automations. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman previously said AI will someday do his job better than him, adding, “I will be nothing but enthusiastic the day that happens.” Sebastian Siemiatkowski, CEO of buy-now-pay-later firm Klarna, also said in a post on X earlier this year that “AI is capable of doing all our jobs, my own included.”
https://fortune.com/2025/11/19/google-ceo-sundar-pichai-says-ai-can-do-his-job/Open linkView original on discuss.online
How is an AI chatbot going to eat a business lunch?
One byte at a time?
And the 12 martinis?
Isn't that just repeating what OP said?
I sincerely apologize, but I did not notice any mentions of martinis. Can you help me spot where OP mentioned these specifically?
They said “business lunch” which implies martinis already.
Yah, it was a joke (perhaps not a great one) and /s was implied. https://lemmy.world/u/Hawke has it correct - the martinis were fully implied by "business lunch" often known as a "liquid lunch". No apology necessary internet friend - it was strictly in jest and not being snarky to you or your comment.
Liquid lunch.
Tbf the person they would eat the lunch with is also a chatbot girlfriend thing now.
You’ve never fed bologna sandwiches to a paper shredder?
That’s going on the list. My heart says I don’t need this, but my brain says I do.
Isn't it the other way around...?
I’m sure there are many jobs AI is not capable of doing but some CEOs probably do a bad enough job that an AI chat bot could probably do better.
I know we like to dump on CEOs all the time but a good CEO does not seem like one that could be replaced by AI, certainly not by what is currently being hyped. There are just a lot of highly visible companies with CEOs who aren’t actually very good. I suspect the dysfunction of publicly traded companies and the goals of Wall Street investors (or other nations’ equivalents) frequently not aligning with a good long-term health of a company has a strong influence on this.
And of course these guys will be happy to have AI replace them; they’ve already made boatloads of money and think they’ll be able to keep that going even if they lose their job.
Being a good CEO is 95% about social networking; creating and maintaining trustworthy relationships with others who will provide you with good support. AI can't do this, as it's a truly human thing.
What about when everone they're networking with are also AI chatbots?
That's why a CEO in the future will be 100% networking and the AI will hand the decisions over for him/her to "make".
Why would you assume that the AI who takes the CEO job will be a LLM or "chat bot"?
It might use a LLM to communicate the ideas, but probably not for large scale business strategi.
A computer can never be held accountable, so a computer should never hold a management position.
Also, Sundar Pichai is a dick.
Not being held accountable is the main tenant of modern CEOs
Yea I’m not seeing any real difference. Something that plagurisng and takes credit for what others achieved and also isn’t held accountable for anything.
What happened there lol
Was on the toilet
They are incredibly sorry all the time though.
Which LLMs can already do very well.
Yeah, I see this as the real problem. Companies will use AI CEOs to take the blame when it makes bad decisions, whether it be to investors or in court. I hope we get to see an AI CEO testify in court.
I would love to see a whole AI data-centre and its accompanying nuclear power plant get arrested.
You don't even need AI. Just pay staff less and charge customers more, and give the stolen money to shareholders. Ta-da! That's the CEO's job done.
Because upper management is less checked, they make a lot of human choices, such as keeping a lot of bullshit job positions open as garden hermits (there for scenery, to look busy).
AI tasked with actually increasing profits may run the business better than their human counterparts.
Become the shareholder and pay yourself ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ
Haha I like that emote
Yeah, doesn't seem worth using AI to me.
I can manually program that much in an hour.
Something that consistently makes bad choices with little more than random probability? You don't say
Indeed, a LLM can certainly spout bullshit on social media.
The job of a tech CEO:
Thanks, I hadn't seen a ??? -> Profit meme in quite a while! : D
They keep the lie alive to appease the stocks market happy.
And he didn't specify how shitty the complex tasks will be done.
Can't be worse than the shitshow he's doing
Let's run the job requirements list:
Yeah all seems to check out. Replace the CEOs, AI can't do worse.
Nailed it.
AI could replace billionaires.
AI is uncaring and unfeeling, so wouldn't care if it was taxed appropriately.
Hate to add to this.
He's saying it to heat up the topic.
These people liked the heaps of cheap good hardware after the dotcom crash, so now they want cheap good hardware, specialized.
You first, shithead
I'm no fan of CEOs but I don't really want AI in charge of stuff either
They are both psychopaths, you'd be hard pressed to find a difference.
They both see workers as a numbers and expendable.
I'd say you want a human CEO so there's accountability, but I don't know that's even true anymore.
We as a civilization have 500,000 years of experience dealing with human leaders like that and absolutely no experience dealing with machine leaders like that. Too many variables. Fuck every part of this.
That’s more an indictment of how we believe human society should be run than an endorsement of AI tbh
Dodge v Ford introduced the framework that made this country stray so far from greatness (on the topic of CEOs and corporations).
I'm waiting for the day when a major company has their AI CEO absolutely tank the company.
“We would sue NVIDIA, but all these lawyers seem to care about is the money they took from us, sooo”
When chatgpt first came out and my CEO scrubbed my entire devision while giving zero bonuses yet having the most profitable year I wrote a prompt for a speech and it was practically verbatim. There's zero need for a CEO aside from maybe needing a fall guy with a golden parachute.
Subject: Q2 2023 Quarterly Update: Record-breaking Profits, Strategic Realignments, and Compensation Adjustments
Dear esteemed stakeholders,
I am thrilled to present to you the second-quarter update, brimming with noteworthy achievements and strategic developments that have significantly impacted our organization's performance. Despite operating in a dynamic and highly competitive landscape, we have delivered outstanding financial results that surpass any previous decade's records. I am excited to share these details and provide insight into the exceptional growth we have experienced in recent months.
Financial Highlights:
In Q2 2023, we witnessed a meteoric rise in our profitability, with net earnings reaching unprecedented heights, outperforming any comparable period over the past ten years. The diligent efforts of our teams, coupled with robust market conditions, synergistic acquisitions, and optimized cost structures, have paved the way for this remarkable achievement.
(Prompt outcome, probably could be more jargon heavy with chatgpt5!)
Strategic Realignment:
Our success can be primarily attributed to our relentless pursuit of strategic realignment initiatives across multiple fronts. By strategically refocusing our core business lines and leveraging our distinctive competencies, we have effectively capitalized on emerging market trends while fortifying our position as an industry leader.
Our investments in cutting-edge technology and digital transformation initiatives have empowered us to unlock new opportunities and drive operational efficiency. The implementation of data-driven analytics has yielded insightful decision-making capabilities, enabling us to optimize resource allocation and enhance overall productivity.
Product Portfolio Optimization:
Our product portfolio underwent a comprehensive review during Q2, resulting in strategic pruning and refocusing efforts. By prioritizing high-growth areas with maximum revenue potential and aligning our offerings with evolving customer needs, we have ensured a sharper competitive edge and amplified market penetration. This proactive approach has allowed us to streamline our operations while effectively positioning ourselves as a provider of innovative solutions.
Employee Recognition and Compensation Adjustments:
Regrettably, amidst these commendable financial achievements, it is imperative that we address a necessary adjustment to our compensation policies. While profits have soared, we have made the difficult decision not to award annual bonuses to our employees this year. This choice was made to safeguard the long-term sustainability and growth of our organization, considering the dynamic market conditions and the need for prudent financial management.
It is important to emphasize that this decision was not taken lightly, and we remain deeply committed to the well-being and development of our employees. Alternative avenues, such as performance-based incentives and recognition programs, will be explored to ensure ongoing motivation and engagement within our workforce. We firmly believe that nurturing a conducive work environment, coupled with career advancement opportunities, will continue to foster a culture of excellence and drive collective success.
Looking Forward:
Moving forward, we will remain steadfast in our commitment to driving sustainable growth, capitalizing on emerging market opportunities, and nurturing a resilient organizational culture. Our strategic initiatives will continue to prioritize innovation, operational excellence, and customer-centricity, ensuring our ability to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing business landscape.
I extend my deepest gratitude to each member of our organization, whose unwavering dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence have contributed to our resounding success. Together, we will navigate the evolving market dynamics and deliver sustainable value to our stakeholders.
Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
[Your Name] CEO, [Company Name]
Of course.
If you have CEOs who manage multiple companies, it means being CEO is never a full time job.
If we need to make good arguments against CEOs, at least try a little.
Wouldnt it be possible that "CEO" is different things in different companies?
Would it be possible that CEOs have people employed to take some of their tasks? Some CEOs, all their tasks?
Is a CEOs job the same when theres 50 people under him/her or 5000? Which do you think could run itself the best?
I also want the CEO job to be handle by someone who actually has a function, and is a good leader with morale and empathy.
But just saying "muuuh CEO bad because!!" is killing the discussion.
If other people are doing your work for you then it sounds like you're not working full time.
Exactly my point, which means you missed it.
The things you quoted pointed to the things making CEOs less important, while other points the opposite.
So just to be very clear about my point: CEOs are very different jobs. Some can be cut, some cant, because CEO doesnt really mean anything other than "person in charge".
if it's so easy an ai could replace it than why are ceos the highest paid position in the company?
Because job difficulty and job pay aren't correlated under capitalism.
The easiest job is to own assets. Not manage assets. Own them. Which is to say get your name on a title of a sufficiently large asset, and the money just rolls in while you sleep in bed. You sleep, your asset works. For a large enough asset this also provides the largest pay.
Owners need lieutenants to look after their assets. That's what a CEO is.
So why are CEOs so highly paid? Because if you do not, they will embezzle (steal) money from your asset since they control every aspect of your asset's daily functioning! So you need to cut the CEO in on the grift of being a big asset owner.
It's an easy job to do, but quite hard to get into.
Easy for computers doesn't mean it's easy for humans, and vice versa.
Then who will be held responsible for its decisions?
You suddenly want to make ceos responsible for decisions?
Wdym suddenly?
take responsibility in what sense? CEOs are not responsible in no other sense than to the stockholders and/or the board of directors and to the law. If they don't break the law then the only responsibility they can take is resigning or being sacked. Failing in usually by not maximizing profits if it's a for profit corporation. It really is a perfect job for a machine because the job really just requires following a preset directives to a letter even to the point of psychopathy.
The law. AI isn't a person so it can't be tried and punished for committing a crime.
CEO’s job is to make business connections and get funding or contracts and stuff. People skills. LLM is really good at manipulation… If you give LLM a physical body, I would say it’s not that far-fetched…
AI can be such a good kiss ass, think of all the emotional suffering it'll save existing CEOs from having to endure kissing ass of people they hate.
So... that means they'll all step down and stop getting paid millions per year, right?
Right?
Guys? Right?
No?
...
😐
Of course he's cool with AI taking his job, he's got a golden parachute for early retirement
Never thought I'd hear honesty out of a C-Suiter
He's afraid he'll have to open his golden parachute before he can finish setting up his yacht flotilla
Quick we need an answer from our CEO ASAP! Sorry currently AWS and Cloudflare are down so were SOL.
Trash tier "article".
You might as well go for the original BBC interview, while looks to be only in audio for now.
The more I hear people talking about AI, the more I believe people don't know what they are talking about, mostly
Is this an attempt to be "relatable" for the
slavesemployees?So I've already commented on this post, but I've had another thought: imagine if your CEO sent you an email saying "we need to do X". You respond with "no, X causes this issue, we need to do Y" and your CEO responds with "You're absolutely right! Here's how we will implement this new policy"
Do it!
oh boy, another article about CEOs saying what “AI” could maybe do in the future. i’ll put this one in the pile with all the others
No this one makes sense though. AI is great at being critically misinformed and making terrible decisions. Of all the things they claim AI can do, I think this one is the closest.
I thought in America all the CEOs are geniuses and put on pedestals because they have money? You know, having money makes one an infallible genius.
Google Gemini now has full self driving…
If AI was truly worth anything then these tech ghouls wouldn't have to constantly hype it so much with click bait sound bites, and trying to shove AI features everywhere, even when it does not make much sense. These scum just want an excuse to keep laying off people to keep the bubble going so they can profitably exit while others are left holding the bag.
Exactly. Altman's comment really speaks to this. It's almost implying, "hey you should welcome AI taking your job too! We are similar!!"
Yes, it can. Research even indicates it can. He isn't saying anything actually novel.
Research in question: https://hbr.org/2024/09/ai-can-mostly-outperform-human-ceos
So, rehashing old ideas as if they were new, making decent products worse but charging more, lacking expertise and in-depth knowledge, using layoffs instead of good financial planning?
I would love to see a study where they ask a 2024 AI for business decisions around things that happened in 2025. How much you want to bet it already can?
So, he practically says that being a CEO is trivial and mechanical.
How does that justify the insane pay then?
Like the other person said, its never justified, its just they run the company so who can really tell them otherwise.
Shareholders maybe? but they won't rock the boat.
Because they are the fall guy when the company does something illegal (like most of them do all the time) and get caught.
The real perps (shareholders) get away scot-free by claiming they didn't know it was happening.
The board and directors, not shareholders. Most companies have non-voting shareholders. Unless it's Blackrock or their ilk, because they have significant influence even without voting rights.
AI guy wants his AI to run companies. Somehow, this is good for business and not a hostile control takeover by proxy.
In a better timeline, if that becomes true, then bring on the UBI.
UBI for former CEOs/Trump's big donors. None for the rest of us.
I agree AI could easily take on the role of the biggest dork in the company, which is largely what the CEO is.
My quotes file for email signatures could replace most modern CEOs. The major qualifications are a cool name and being over six feet tall.
It’s maybe the only job it should actually replace.
I still wouldn’t trust the current models with it. But tbh even the current models couldn’t be any worse than the current humans in the roles.
Can’t wait for that AI dividend UBI check.
Oh how the turns have tabled.
Even worse, they are literally all like this among the tech companies. They are all cancerous vermin.
Well sure. CEOs' main job is to coordinate the functions of major business units with the wishes of shareholders/the board of directors. Ultimately they're a middleman on the hook for the results of the business without actual direct control of day to day operations.
Effectively that means they give broad goals and direction to named execs, who translate those goals into actions for their organizations, that middle managers direct their teams to achieve. Then middle managers report success/failure to named execs, who report back to the CEO who (in conjunction with the other named execs) reports success/failure to shareholders & the board along with financial results.
The execs all are basically on the hook for the results of the decisions made by those below them, but they only decide the broad strokes of the actions of the business.
LLMs could do most of that. The only problem is they can't really make decisions properly. But they could pretty easily turn what is said by the board & shareholders into goals for others to enact - and maybe determine if actions taken by the business support the goals to some degree.
That is like 80% of the job of a CEO.
What do you mean? That would be horrible!
AI is great at pursuing the ideal you give it, in that case "make money", and finding all sorts of counterintuitive ways to pursue that ideal the best it can with complete disregard to anything else that could distract from it including humanity's interests and morality. It would destroy the planet just to make more money.. oh wait no nevermind now I see CEOs do that already.
Yeah, I'm not surprised the wealthy person who owns the output of the AI tools and company is enthusiastic about his job being "replaced," since - as the owner and therefore spout of the AI value funnel - he now has to work even less to extract the value of hundreds or thousands of human lives.
AI will manage company like it manage vending machines.
Just like a broken clock shows the right time twice a day....
"Aw, sh*t. Half the country works for Brawndo. Not anymore! The stock has dropped to zero...
and the computer did that auto-layoff thing to everybody."
As much as I like hating CEO's... Aren't small company CEO's included? I feel that at least some of those people risked it all to build a company so they really shouldn't be bundled in here...
Collectives are better. Share risk, responsibility, and reward.
As a CEO, you get to decide if your company invests in this BS. So your job can be quite safe if you choose.
Did anyone else, forced to use MS at work, wake up to an email from Sundar Pichai about the wonders of Copilot?
They are fucking desperate for anyone to take up on this garbage tech
He's not worried though, so we know where they stand on how good this 'AI' is.
If that happens I HOPE we can Use our TAX DOLLARS to make Sure CEOS can Continue their Extravagant Lifestyle!
At least he's honest, I guess. This time.
Ffs just stop talking, dude.
The only onstacle here is ethics, which the human CEOs already lack. So what are we waiting for?
This was the ironic outcome of the Twilight Zone episode The Brain Center at Whipple's ( @WP ): After the labor was replaced by automation, the upper management was easily so replaced.
As soon as they fix the memory issue, sure. Otherwise it’s gonna be schizophrenic.
That's definitely going to be a solved problem very soon with RAG LLMs. I have a friend who works in LLM research and it's crazy how much progress they make so quickly. Their cutting edge stuff he shows me makes GPT-5 look like a toddler.
RAG isn’t a silver bullet by any stretch.
The first thing a proper AI would do is solve the energy situation. Which will be allowed by 0 of the oil and energy industries. Solving that alone would reduce costs on EVERYTHING. Oligarchs would be out next. It's not going to happen.
They can just hire grok to be the ceo
Maybe he's just Pichai is just really smart and trying to get the breaks slammed on the AI bubble before it pops.
Listen if this works the way you think it does, half the country is going to be out of work. CEO: but our company will make a lot of money right, someone else is going to do it eventually anyway.
OK, look if this works the way it is supposed to, we won't need you anymore!
Oh shit, hit the breaks, no more AI, it's all a bubble anyway.