13 February 2026
Eric Schmidt, the former CEO Google’s CEO, doesn’t dwell on the AI hype; on the contrary, he believes it doesn’t get enough attention. During a recent TED talk, he spoke about the astonishing developments in AI, with a focus on the planning and strategic capabilities of this technology. He argues that we focus too much on language skills, while the potential of AI reaches much further. These developments could completely transform the way society functions.
It’s clear that public interest in AI has been focused primarily on text generation, such as chatbots and automated summarization. But Schmidt sees AI moving in an exciting direction. “You’re seeing the transition from language to sequencing and now to planning and strategy,” he said. He points to this as a key development. “The ultimate state of this technology is that computers will drive all of the business processes.”
The economic impact of AI could be huge: Schmidt sees improvements of as much as 30% per day once AI is deployed globally. But he thinks humans will still be needed. In his signature style, he quipped: “Do you really think we’re going to get rid of lawyers? No, they’re just going to have more sophisticated lawsuits.” This offers an interesting perspective: the human role will evolve, but it won’t disappear.
When most people marvel at bots, Schmidt points to systems like OpenAI’s o3 and Deepseek R1. These systems demonstrate advanced planning capabilities and can work through complex problems. He even shares his experiences with AI, which is helping him learn more about the space industry: “I bought a rocket company because I wanted to invest in it. These systems can write in-depth research papers in just XNUMX minutes. It’s just impressive.”
In addition to his optimism about the benefits of AI, Schmidt points to the great competition between the United States and China in this domain — a struggle that could potentially cause global conflict. “The competition between the West, especially the United States, and China will be decisive,” he notes. According to him, these developments are already present in strategic decision-making worldwide. He believes that this technology will ultimately be crucial to the way countries interact with each other.
Still, Schmidt remains cautiously optimistic about the benefits of AI. He sees a future where everyone has access to personalized AI tutors, and where sectors such as education and healthcare benefit from AI analysis. “My advice to all of you is: ride the wave, but stay engaged on a daily basis,” he encourages. Integrating AI into our daily lives is crucial to staying relevant in an increasingly competitive world.
Schmidt is convinced that the development of AI, including general and superintelligence, may be the most important event in the next 500 to 1,000 years. “It’s happening now, in our time,” he adds, with a certain amount of conviction.
Why does Eric Schmidt think AI doesn't get enough attention?
According to Schmidt, the focus of public interest is too much on language and text, while the strategic and planning possibilities of AI have much greater implications for society.
What is the expected economic impact of AI according to Schmidt?
Schmidt suggests that economic improvements from AI could reach up to 30% per day once the technology is fully integrated into business processes.
What role does Schmidt see for people in the future with AI?
According to Schmidt, people will still be relevant, although their roles will evolve. He does not believe that professions such as law or politics will be destroyed; instead, they will adapt to new technological possibilities.
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