Eric Schmidt on AI Coding: Ex-Google CEO Admits Potential Obsolescence

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has expressed surprise at the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, particularly AI's newfound ability to independently generate code. Schmidt even admitted that this development has made him feel potentially obsolete.

Schmidt highlighted AI's capacity to automate business operations such as billing and accounting, noting its potential to significantly impact these areas. He also predicted that artificial general intelligence (AGI) – AI with human-level cognitive abilities – could arrive within the next three to five years.

That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. Schmidt cautioned that human oversight will be crucial to maintain agency and freedom as AI becomes more prevalent. He shared his astonishment at Harvard University earlier this month after witnessing an AI system autonomously create a program. "Holy crap. The end of me," Schmidt remarked, reflecting on his 55 years of programming experience and the profound implications of AI's rapid progress.