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Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman, Alphabet Inc.: Just Say "Yes"

Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman, Alphabet Inc.: Just Say "Yes"

38 segments available

Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman of Alphabet Inc. on how to achieve success: Surround yourself with interesting, ambitious people, and always say “yes” to challenges. Read more leadership insights from the Stanford GSB View From The Top talk on Monday, April 24, 2017: http://stanford.io/2qBewA7

Segments Timeline

1
0:00 - 1:01
1:01 duration195 words

Welcome to the Age of Abundance

Eric Schmidt introduces the concept of an 'age of abundance,' highlighting the overwhelming amount of information and resources available today. He emphasizes the importance of focusing amidst this abundance and reflects on the impressive caliber of Stanford students, suggesting that the future holds even greater potential.

"[Music] um it's it's great to be back um wearing my almost Stanford red and uh uh I'm excited for you all to graduate and I'm excited for the first years to make it to the second year and it's just wo..."

2
1:01 - 2:10
1:09 duration217 words

Challenges of Abundance

Schmidt discusses the paradox of abundance, where material wealth coexists with societal issues like conflict and anxiety. He stresses the need for personal and economic freedom to navigate these challenges, while acknowledging the ongoing struggles with integration and tolerance in society.

"else or perhaps present your latest startup idea um and see how well you do in front of your peers I'm convinced we're actually entering an age of abundance and that age of abundance is defined by too..."

3
2:10 - 3:12
1:01 duration189 words

The Promise of Longevity

In this segment, Schmidt shares insights on life expectancy, noting that children born today are expected to live longer than ever. He humorously advises on the importance of dental care, linking longevity to the need for maintaining health and well-being in an age of abundance.

"still going to have religious nationalistic and personal conflicts to look forward to right I think that's the reality right and speaking as your local technology Optimist we haven't been able to quit..."

4
3:12 - 4:30
1:18 duration260 words

From Engineers to Innovators

Reflecting on his own career, Schmidt recounts the skepticism surrounding engineering jobs in the 1970s. He highlights the dramatic advancements in technology, illustrating how the evolution of computing has created unprecedented opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship.

"are highly protected from this abundance how are we going to sort this out I don't think Society has figured this out the principles that I've been operating under which I would encourage you to to op..."

5
4:30 - 5:49
1:18 duration210 words

The Age of Intelligence

Schmidt predicts a transition from the age of abundance to an age of intelligence, driven by technological advancements. He discusses the implications of AI and machine learning in various fields, including healthcare, and how these technologies can lead to significant improvements in quality of life.

"lengthy studies of the fact that there would never be jobs for engineers in the future and in fact I was going into a job market where it was not obvious that Engineers would have jobs at all we might..."

6
5:49 - 7:02
1:12 duration188 words

Revolutionizing Safety with Technology

In this segment, Schmidt addresses the potential for technology to enhance safety, particularly in transportation. He draws parallels between the safety of commercial air travel and the future of autonomous vehicles, emphasizing the need for innovation to reduce traffic-related fatalities.

"deal um the analytical systems that are being built now Can Do Better plan planning and Analysis for any system that has variable inputs that is variable Supply and variable demanders right much of th..."

7
7:02 - 8:10
1:08 duration190 words

The Future of Healthcare

Schmidt elaborates on how advancements in computer vision and AI can transform healthcare diagnostics. He advocates for the integration of technology in medical practices to improve patient outcomes and streamline healthcare processes.

"healthier and solving diseases so what does this mean for you all well let's talk about cars right how many of you know someone who's had a tragic family loss somebody died on a car accident I think t..."

8
8:10 - 9:30
1:19 duration208 words

Creating New Corporations

Discussing the entrepreneurial landscape, Schmidt highlights the opportunities for new corporations to emerge from the current technological wave. He emphasizes the importance of fast iteration and customer feedback in building successful businesses in today's market.

"in the next few years the process will really begin so if you think about vision is a solved problem then what does that do for radiology and pathology so when you go to the dermatologist you really w..."

9
9:30 - 10:54
1:24 duration256 words

Harnessing Community for Success

Schmidt explains how leveraging large communities and data can lead to significant business advantages. He encourages entrepreneurs to utilize machine learning and customer insights to enhance their products and services, ultimately driving success.

"it's no longer slow product Cycles it's fast iteration learning your product your app changes every week um extremely deep sensing and Telemetry data on everything that you care about in your business..."

10
10:54 - 12:47
1:53 duration369 words

Making Your Own Luck

In this concluding segment, Schmidt shares personal anecdotes about taking risks and seizing opportunities. He encourages graduates to focus on their passions and not be distracted by external anxieties, emphasizing the importance of creating one's own luck in life.

"great and we can talk about this some more with questions and comments so I thought I would talk a little bit about being a student here right being a graduate being being what you will be um and and ..."

11
12:44 - 13:36
0:51 duration174 words

The Power of 'Yes'

This segment focuses on the transformative power of saying 'yes' to new experiences and opportunities. Schmidt argues that embracing challenges can lead to personal and professional growth, and he encourages graduates to step out of their comfort zones.

"because that's where the target was and then he was willing to accept the risk so sometimes life works that way right that you move there and you but he made the luck happen um and in fact when I say ..."

12
13:36 - 14:53
1:16 duration202 words

Finding Meaning in Life

Schmidt discusses the importance of seeking meaning over novelty in life. He suggests that true satisfaction comes from serving others and making a positive impact, rather than merely chasing fleeting experiences.

"around I I would I would also suggest that you develop a at least a fake charm if you don't have any um sorry um take a picture of someone's child and send it to the parent explain to someone's parent..."

13
14:53 - 15:38
0:44 duration149 words

Long-Term Thinking in Strategy

In this segment, Schmidt critiques the short-term focus often found in strategic planning. He advocates for a longer time horizon in strategy development, emphasizing that significant changes often take years to materialize.

"the people that you worked with which will provide this incredible incredible satisfaction one of the my my sort of pet peeve with strategy is that it's always taught in a short time frame but in fact..."

14
15:38 - 16:43
1:05 duration202 words

Embracing Change and Curiosity

Schmidt encourages graduates to remain curious and adaptable in a rapidly changing world. He shares insights on how to challenge the status quo and the importance of persistence and grit in achieving success.

"business but also for yourself personally be extraordinarily curious and and don't don't assume the status quo is unchangeable I learned this from Larry and Sergey um who basically just ued tradition ..."

15
16:43 - 17:30
0:46 duration134 words

The Role of Gratitude and Diversity

In this segment, Schmidt reflects on the increasing inequality in the world and the importance of gratitude for one's circumstances. He emphasizes that diversity is a strength and that tolerance is essential for societal progress.

"with new things new ideas avoid preconception and know more truths right no literally know things but it seems to me that in order to be disciplined so in order to get this that is to have your own Fr..."

16
17:30 - 19:32
2:02 duration389 words

Just Say Yes

Schmidt concludes with a powerful mantra: 'Just say yes.' He encourages graduates to embrace new opportunities, meet new people, and step outside their comfort zones, as this mindset is key to personal and professional growth.

"always been terrible and they're less terrible right those are the facts right my father took pictures when he was uh roughly you guys's age he was traveling around Africa and you look at the pictures..."

17
20:55 - 21:27
0:32 duration103 words

The Impact of Smartphones in Developing Regions

Eric Schmidt discusses the transformative role of inexpensive smartphones in developing regions, emphasizing their importance as sources of entertainment, information, and communication. He highlights how the arrival of smartphones is more significant than that of television, as they connect billions more people to the internet, improving their lives.

"things that I am proudest of and Google and Android play a major major role in this is that that phone when it arrives in the village is far more important than the arrival of Television a while earli..."

18
21:27 - 22:02
0:34 duration99 words

The Inequality of Bandwidth

In this segment, Schmidt addresses the disparity in bandwidth growth between developing and developed nations. He explains how while connectivity improves for billions, the developed world experiences even greater increases in bandwidth, leading to a widening gap in empowerment and access to resources.

"but then we went back and we said well if that's such a great news right what's the math and the math is that while connectivity for those people is getting much better the bandwidth to the developed ..."

19
22:02 - 22:41
0:39 duration143 words

Future of Food Production

Schmidt predicts a future where food production will be revolutionized through new manufacturing processes. He discusses the potential for lab-grown meat to become mainstream, emphasizing its health benefits and the reduction of diseases, while also addressing public skepticism about such innovations.

"so in Industries where you have declining costs which is Communications computer chips silk and that kind of thing I think the story is at least you can get it everywhere as long as and that's also go..."

20
22:41 - 23:01
0:20 duration52 words

Trade and Economic Inequality

In this segment, Schmidt argues for the benefits of trade and investment, suggesting that economic growth can lead to increased inequality. He advocates for redistribution policies to support those left behind, while acknowledging the political challenges of addressing these issues in rural and manufacturing areas.

"be a lot healthier for you and people will work that out so the economic answer is that you're better off letting trade happen and letting this inequality occur and then use redistributionist policies..."

21
23:01 - 23:56
0:54 duration165 words

Blockchain Technology and Decentralization

Schmidt responds to a question about blockchain technology, discussing its potential to empower individuals while also expressing concerns about the overreaction to its implications. He highlights the importance of understanding blockchain as a fundamental advancement in computer science.

"roughly in that camp I'm skeptical that the if you look at an aggregate basis we're probably better off doing the trade doing the investment creating the companies allowing it to become and then makin..."

22
23:56 - 25:01
1:05 duration206 words

The Future of AI and Human Intelligence

In this segment, Schmidt explores the rapid advancements in AI and its potential to mimic aspects of human intelligence. He reflects on how technology will evolve over the next few decades, drawing parallels to the transformative impact of the iPhone and predicting significant changes in various fields.

"sharing insight I I really appreciate it um so I was wondering and to hear your thoughts on um you know sort of the Revolution that's happening with blockchain technology and um you know decentralized..."

23
25:01 - 26:03
1:02 duration182 words

The Role of AI in Society

Schmidt discusses the implications of AI in society, particularly in healthcare and drug discovery. He emphasizes the need for understanding how AI systems work and the challenges of accountability when these systems make decisions, using the example of self-driving cars.

"because on the one one hand we're putting enormous power in the hands of individuals and at the same time we're terrified at the result of that in some cases by overreacting uh the specifics about blo..."

24
26:03 - 27:14
1:10 duration208 words

Opportunities in Biology and AI

Schmidt advises aspiring entrepreneurs to focus on systems AI and biology, highlighting the potential for breakthroughs that could address long-standing human challenges. He notes the increasing investment in these fields and the importance of interdisciplinary approaches.

"200 years might look like for the next five to 10 years the AI stuff that I'm talking about is incredibly obviously beneficial right so I mentioned health care I mentioned drug Discovery I mentioned b..."

25
27:14 - 28:03
0:49 duration138 words

Antitrust and Competition in Tech

In this segment, Schmidt addresses concerns about monopolies in the tech industry, particularly regarding Google. He discusses the competitive landscape of the internet and how it fosters innovation, while also reflecting on historical antitrust issues faced by companies like Microsoft.

"physics into this computer and behold some new you know some new discoveries and and some real effect on timing it gets harder to see what happens after that right how does this emergent technology ev..."

26
28:03 - 29:01
0:57 duration173 words

Science, Technology, and Politics

Schmidt comments on the deteriorating relationship between the science and technology communities and government. He reflects on the historical funding of research and the challenges faced in securing support for scientific advancements in the current political climate.

"Fiction over there yes sir hi marki mb1 um somehow related to the previous question what do you think what do you believe are the biggest Mega Trends uh right now and especially what do you believe we..."

27
31:15 - 32:17
1:02 duration192 words

The Internet's Competitive Edge

Eric Schmidt discusses the competitive nature of the internet and how it has eliminated barriers to entry for new products. He emphasizes that the success of companies like Google, Apple, and Amazon is due to the brutal competition that drives innovation and quality, making it essential for products to be genuinely good to succeed in today's market.

"quite a bit of time the European government with respect to the Google activities um the the US answer um is that which came out of um the Rockefeller age 100 years ago the standard is not set but bas..."

28
32:20 - 33:00
0:40 duration119 words

The Brutality of Competition

In this segment, Schmidt highlights the fierce competition among tech giants and how it benefits consumers. He reflects on the evolution of the industry, comparing it to the PC era, and asserts that the current landscape fosters innovation, resulting in powerful devices like smartphones.

"there are depending on how you count at four or five companies that are defining most of this and they are Apple Google Amazon Microsoft Facebook and that's roughly the order of the top five corporati..."

29
33:02 - 34:22
1:19 duration218 words

Science and Politics: A Troubling Relationship

Schmidt addresses the deteriorating relationship between the science and technology communities and government. He points out the decline in NIH funding for medical research and criticizes policies that undermine scientific progress, emphasizing the importance of investing in health research and innovation.

"it yes sir hi n gardenswartz uh mba1 um thanks so much for coming would you be willing to comment on the relationship as you see it between the Science and Technology communities on the one hand and g..."

30
34:25 - 35:34
1:09 duration199 words

The Importance of Scientific Truth

In this segment, Schmidt asserts the necessity of acknowledging scientific truths, such as climate change. He argues against the denial of established facts and stresses the need for a society that values scientific evidence over political or material interests.

"is another discussion right I don't need to tell you about that one um so there's some weird mix of nativism lack of understanding scientific bias um so I'm not sure how to solve this problem but I wo..."

31
35:39 - 36:22
0:42 duration137 words

Fighting Falsehoods in Science

Schmidt discusses the challenges posed by special interests that promote falsehoods for political gain. He emphasizes the need for a concerted effort to combat misinformation and advocates for increased funding for basic research to support scientific integrity.

"of people including myself who are working hard to try to get these messages through to people who spend their time denying science for political or material reasons but a simple rule is that often sp..."

32
36:25 - 37:40
1:15 duration235 words

Closing the Gender Gap in Tech

In this segment, Schmidt shares insights on addressing the gender gap in the tech industry. He discusses the importance of creating equitable employment systems and highlights successful strategies for promoting gender equality in the workplace.

"right more questions yes hi Lam MSX originally from Israel I wanted to get your take on um how do we close the gender gap in the business and Tech World silon Valley has worked hard hard on this and u..."

33
37:43 - 39:06
1:23 duration252 words

Strategies for Pay Equity

Schmidt elaborates on effective strategies to close the pay gap between men and women in tech. He emphasizes the importance of basing salaries on current market rates rather than historical salaries, which often disadvantage women.

"unconscious bias thing which everybody's focusing on now is very real if you talk to women they'll say I feel like I'm not heard I feel like I'm interrupted I feel like I'm tued over and corporations ..."

34
39:08 - 40:12
1:03 duration169 words

The Role of Technology in Society

In this segment, Schmidt reflects on the responsibility of technology companies to ensure their products are human-centered. He discusses the potential risks of technology enforcing uniformity of thought and the importance of fostering diverse perspectives.

"trying experiments like that I think this is a solvable problem more question over here yes yes sir yes ma'am excuse me hi I'm Kelsey page I'm actually in undergrad uh you talked a little bit about fa..."

35
40:15 - 42:43
2:28 duration436 words

Combating Misinformation Online

Schmidt outlines Google's efforts to combat misinformation and hate speech online. He discusses the challenges posed by automated systems and the importance of improving algorithms to prioritize legitimate discourse over harmful content.

"below right below the sort of the more legitimate debates and I'm very proud of that and and that only gets better in my view the second is that we have a team called jigsaw which which is working ver..."

36
42:45 - 44:30
1:44 duration276 words

The Future of Technology and Trust

In this concluding segment, Schmidt emphasizes the need for technology to earn public trust. He warns against the dangers of automated misinformation and the potential impact on democratic processes, advocating for a future where technology supports diverse voices and independent thought.

"that's not a good thing hey my name is Ben uh thanks for uh coming to speak today you had mentioned earlier um some comments around uh focusing in your career and related to that I'd like to ask how y..."

37
45:00 - 46:43
1:42 duration297 words

The Burning Man Test

In a light-hearted moment, Schmidt discusses the significance of experiences like Burning Man in assessing potential hires. He explains how such environments can reveal a person's ability to foster group dynamics and creativity, making it a valuable 'test' for leadership qualities. This segment highlights the unconventional methods of evaluating talent.

"incumbents including for us yes sir hi uh James P nice to see you again how are you um so another article I read this weekend was about yourself and how Larry and Sergey when they would bring you on r..."

38
46:43 - 52:07
5:24 duration851 words

Calico and the Future of Longevity Research

Schmidt provides an overview of Calico, Google's initiative focused on understanding aging and extending human lifespan. He discusses the current research status and the potential economic impact of successful longevity treatments. This segment captures the intersection of technology and health, emphasizing the ambitious goals of Calico.

"what I do and what we did at Google is first we wanted people who were more than did more than did one thing so we wanted them to be curious and we wanted them to be accomplished in something so serge..."