Former Google CEO, Eric Schmidt, stated that Google's future is not about "blue links" but about organizing the world's information. He mentioned this during an interview on CNBC, where he discussed the "blue link economy" and how businesses have benefited from Google Search. However, Schmidt emphasized that Google is evolving, with AI providing answers instead of a list of websites.
Schmidt, despite no longer being in a leadership role, has a deep understanding of Google's future trajectory. Current Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, has also indicated that search as we know it will undergo significant changes in the next decade, evolving towards a Search Generative Experience.
Schmidt also discussed the potential of AI in advertising. He believes that Google will be able to monetize AI answers and that AI will enhance advertising effectiveness. He cited his early work at Google, where he used early versions of advertising AI to improve ad effectiveness.
Schmidt also mentioned that the arrival of a non-human form of intelligence is imminent and that AI is currently "underhyped". He predicts significant AI advancements within the next five years. The full interview can be viewed here.
