People should not “blindly trust” everything AI tools say, the CEO of Google’s parent company Alphabet told the BBC.
In an exclusive interview, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai warned that today’s AI systems are still “prone to errors” and should not be treated as perfectly reliable sources. He advised users to combine AI tools with traditional search methods and other information platforms.
Pichai explained that this highlights why a diverse information ecosystem is essential. Relying only on AI, he said, can lead to mistakes.
“This is why people also use Google Search,” he noted, adding that Google continues to offer products that are designed to deliver more accurate and verified information.
Some experts, however, argue that major tech companies like Google shouldn’t be asking users to fact-check AI responses themselves. Instead, they believe firms should focus on improving the accuracy and reliability of their systems.
Pichai acknowledged that AI can be extremely useful — especially for creative tasks — but stressed that users need to understand its limits.
“You have to learn to use these tools for what they’re good at, and not blindly trust everything they say,” he told the BBC.
He said the company puts significant effort into improving accuracy, but current AI technology still has flaws. Because of this, Google includes warnings within its AI tools to remind users that mistakes can occur.
Even so, Google has faced criticism for inaccuracies in its own products. The rollout of AI Overviews — Google’s feature that generates summaries in search results — triggered backlash due to several bizarre and incorrect responses.
The broader issue of generative AI models sharing misleading or false information continues to worry researchers and industry analysts.