A few minutes before Patrick went to the stage to deliver the keynote address, I asked him, “do you really believe that companies like Alphabet today can be a force for good in an authoritarian world?”. The enthusiasm was quite palpable in his eyes, “when you have a billion users, those billion users have an immense power.”
Patrick went to the podium shortly after to offer what I would consider one of the most thought-provoking outlooks on technology’s transformative power, ethical responsibilities and the challenges of our interconnected world that I have ever come across.
Patrick, who has seen it all in the tech world, describes himself as a perennial technology optimist. “I think technology is extraordinary." From a self-described “failed carpenter” to a leader at some of the most influential tech companies in the world. Pichette’s career trajectory has been aligned with arguably the most significant technological advancements of our time. His philosophy on this subject, that “technology has no force in the race. It just is”, challenged the audience to think of technology isn’t good or bad but becomes impactful through the choices made by those who create and use it.
One of the most captivating takeaways of Pichette’s talk was his view on the future of AI. Comparing AI’s potential to the revolutionary impact of the internet and computer chips, he expressed enthusiasm about AI's applications in life sciences and quantum computing. "In life sciences," he explained, "we’re already seeing these models enable searches for the right molecules and T cells… it's like looking for needles in haystacks, and with big data, now you can.” Quantum computing also came up as a major area of potential, with Pichette stating that whoever achieves a breakthrough in this field “will open an entire window for themselves for the next 100 years.”
According to Pichette, the exponential decrease in costs for computing, storage, and bandwidth has lowered barriers to innovation, making transformative technologies accessible and driving economic growth globally. Reflecting on milestones like the rapid adoption of products such as Google Translate and Uber, Pichette remarked: "the minute that mobile phones showed up with Nokia… it took 16 years [to reach 100 million users]. Google Translate in 2006… took 78 months [to reach 100 million users]."
One question from the audience cut to the core of this discussion: “How do we stay on top of these strengths, and ensure its developing in the right direction, to be used for good rather than bad?”. Pichette agreed that this is one of the biggest challenges facing both individuals and corporations.
Yet his message to the audience was not just about the wonders of innovation, but about the profound responsibility we carry as its stewards. For instance, he recalled his time on Twitter’s board where he had the opportunity to witness firsthand the complexities of managing a platform both as a “public square” and a for-profit entity, and reflected on how Twitter’s choice to operate as a traditional corporation rather than a Benefit Corporation played a key role in shaping the decision to sell the company to Elon Musk. “The strategic error that Twitter made was to not set us off from the get-go as a Benefit Corporation… because it was a Delaware corporation… our lawyers basically said, ‘You’re there to maximize shareholder profits.’” This legal requirement effectively left the board with no option but to entertain Musk’s offer. “Am I proud? No. Did I do my duty as a board member? Yeah.”
In today’s world, where technology is transforming how we live, work, and connect, conversations around ethical responsibility in tech have become more pressing than ever. The audience questioned Patrick on how they, as individuals, can ensure technology’s role leans toward societal good. "What's our personal responsibility?" one attendee asked, especially in the face of misinformation and the growing power of the “attention economy.” Pichette responded passionately: “We have a responsibility to act ethically… [and] so much power in your personal choices and how you communicate”. When asked which technological innovations he would invest in if he had to choose only one, Pichette pointed immediately to decarbonization.
Pichette’s reflections on his personal and professional trajectory offers a profound narrative of perseverance and optimism. He described how, as a young man, he went from working as a carpenter to studying at Oxford, then moving on to roles at McKinsey, Bell Canada, and eventually Google. “I’m a builder,” he said, speaking of his love for taking on challenges and turning ideas into realities. When asked about the potential pathways people can take in their careers, he responded with a characteristic optimism, “be thoughtful of the places you go work for” and “seek companies with values you truly believe in”.
Pichette left the audience with a powerful message on personal responsibility and the ethical use of technology: “Decide how you want to approach it, rather than, ‘Is it good or is it bad?’ It’s a choice.”
Hatim Hussain is a lawyer and DPhil in Law researcher at University of Oxford. He is currently Head of Content Development in a machine learning regtech startup and previously served as Chief Risk and Legal Officer for a Swiss fintech democratising banking services for people in countries where inflation is high and banking is broken.