Artificial intelligence is as important as fire--and as dangerous, says Google boss

Google CEO Sundar Pichai believes artificial intelligence could have "more profound" implications for humanity than electricity or fire, according to recent comments. Pichai also warned that the development of artificial intelligence could pose as much risk as that of fire if its potential is not harnessed correctly. "AI is one of the most important things humanity is working on," Pichai said in an interview with MSNBC and Recode, set to air on Friday, January 26. "It's more profound than, I don't know, electricity or fire." Pichai went on to warn of the potential dangers associated with developing advanced AI, saying that developers need to learn to harness its benefits in the same way humanity did with fire.