Google co-founder Larry Page 'wants' students to be "lazy" only if they embrace...

Larry-Page

Google co-founder Larry Page offered a strikingly unconventional career tip to graduates at the University of Michigan in 2009. Speaking during the commencement ceremony, the billionaire entrepreneur advised students to “embrace technology to be lazy.” His message was not about avoiding work but about finding smarter, more efficient ways to make an impact by leveraging technology.

Page’s unconventional advice

Page, who has a net worth of $174 billion according to Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index, explained that technology can amplify efforts in ways that traditional hard work cannot. “Technology, and especially the internet, can really help you be lazy,” he said. He highlighted that a small group can achieve massive reach with the right tools. “A group of three people can write software that then millions can use and enjoy. Can three people answer the phone a million times?”

This mindset of scale and efficiency played a pivotal role in Google’s early success. Page recalled how his Stanford advisor encouraged him to explore opportunities on the web in the late 1990s. That advice led to the creation of Google, which transformed into a global technology leader.

From Stanford to a tech giant

Google went public in 2004 at $85 per share with a $23 billion valuation. Today, its parent company Alphabet is among the most valuable corporations worldwide, with a market capitalization in the trillions. The company’s mission to “organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful” reflects Page’s principle of scalable impact through technology.

Lessons for graduates today

Although Page’s advice dates back more than a decade, it continues to resonate with students and young professionals navigating a rapidly changing workplace shaped by artificial intelligence. His message emphasizes smart work over hard work, urging graduates to think about leverage rather than effort alone.

Page concluded his address with an encouraging reminder: “Don’t give up on your dreams. The world needs you all.” His call to curiosity, ambition, and technological adoption remains relevant at a time when automation and AI are