NY Times columnist and author Thomas Friedman recently argued that humanity faces a Promethean moment with the advent of artificial intelligence (AI). Just as the Prometheus of Greek mythology is said to have bestowed the gift of fire upon humanity and gave rise to civilization, AI has the potential to usher in a new era in human progress, similar to the invention of the printing press, and the scientific and industrial revolutions. At Google Public Sector, we believe that advances in AI will drive the biggest technological shift we will see in our lifetimes, and we’re excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.

As Google’s CEO recently wrote, it’s bigger than the shift from desktop computing to mobile, and it may be bigger than the internet itself. It’s a fundamental rewiring of technology and an incredible accelerant of human ingenuity. AI is already having a positive impact on the way we live and work, for example, and how governments deliver services, including enabling online translation across dozens of languages and speeding up support for humanitarian relief after natural disasters.