Google chief Sunder Pichai feels free and open internet is under attack

New Delhi:The free and open internet is under attack in countries around the world, Alphabet and Google chief executive Sundar Pichai tells BBC.

His warning comes in an in-depth interview with the broadcaster. Pichai says many countries are restricting the flow of information and the model is often taken for granted.

"In each country now there is a debate what speech is OK and what should be allowed... in some ways I think we pull back from the bigger picture (which is that) many countries around the world are restricting the flow of information and drawing much more rigid boundaries."

The Google boss asks "countries with strong democratic traditions and values" to stand up against the potential fragmenting of the internet.

On new and emerging technology, Pichai argues that artificial intelligence is more profound than fire, electricity or the internet.

According to him, over the next quarter of a century, two other developments will further revolutionise the world: artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

"I view it as the most profound technology that humanity will ever develop and work on," he said.

"You know, if you think about fire or electricity or the internet, it's like that. But I think even more profound," he told interviewer Amol Rajan.

Artificial intelligence is, at base, the attempt to replicate human intelligence in machines. Various AI systems are already better at solving particular kinds of problems than humans.

Asked about his Indian roots, the Chennai-born said, "I'm an American citizen but India is deeply within me "(UNI)