Who will be next Google CEO? Sundar Pichai answers mega succession plan

Google CEO Sundar Pichai

Google CEO Sundar Pichai has opened up about the crucial succession plan at the tech giant.

Speaking at Bloomberg’s Tech Conference, held in San Francisco, Pichai laid out a roadmap for future leadership at Google. While he didn’t name anyone in particular, Pichai said that, in time, whoever heads Google after him will have “an extraordinary AI companion.”

The remark comes amid growing concerns about artificial intelligence replacing humans. Pichai’s comments are seen as a reflection of Google’s firm commitment to integrating AI across its operations.

At the conference, Pichai also sought to allay fears surrounding AI, emphasising that it should be viewed as an enhancement rather than a threat to human productivity.

Calling AI a companion, Pichai said that it will be key to leadership roles at Google. He also noted that, through 2026, Google’s parent company Alphabet plans to hire more engineers — a move that underlines the continuing importance of human involvement in core operations.

“AI as companion” was not just a corporate catchphrase coined by Pichai at the conference. During his talk, he also discussed how he personally uses AI to "vibe code."

Pichai explained that he has been using AI tools such as Replit and Cursor to develop custom webpages. He gave examples of how key prompts are helping streamline the process, replacing traditional manual programming methods.