India, Oct. 13 -- Despite a series of AI-related layoffs across the tech industry, Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian has said artificial intelligence will not eliminate technology jobs but instead help workers achieve more. The Indian-origin executive, who leads Google's fast-growing cloud division, believes AI should be viewed as a tool for empowerment rather than displacement.

Speaking to Big Technology newsletter, Kurian said there is a "middle ground" between fears of mass automation and the reality of how AI is being deployed. "AI's purpose is to enhance human capabilities rather than replace people outright," he explained.

Kurian cited Google's Customer Engagement Suite, an AI-powered set of customer service tools launched last year,...