Why Pichai’s Vision Matters At its core, Pichai’s leadership is driven by a belief that AI can “democratize opportunity,” rooted in his own journey from a modest upbringing in Madurai, India, to Silicon Valley’s pinnacle. Yet, this “why” faces tension: Is it about universal empowerment or consolidating Google’s global influence? His plans for AI and data centers, especially in the Asia-Pacific, reveal a leader navigating ambition, ethics, and geopolitics. AI as Google’s North