Google cofounder Larry Page delivered unconventional wisdom to University of Michigan graduates in 2009, telling them that “technology, and especially the internet, can really help you be lazy.” The billionaire tech mogul, now worth $174 billion according to Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index, encouraged students to seek leverage through technology rather than traditional hard work.Page’s advice came during a commencement address where he reflected on Google’s origins at Stanford University in the late 1990s. He credited his advisor’s suggestion to “work on the web for a while” as pivotal to creating the search engine that would revolutionize information access. The timing proved fortuitous, as the internet was experiencing explosive growth and investment during that period.
Finding leverage through smart work beats working harder, says Google co-founder
The Google cofounder illustrated his point with a practical example: “A group of three people can write software that then millions can use and enjoy. Can three people answer the phone a million times?” This philosophy of scalable impact guided Google’s development from a Stanford research project into a $2.3 trillion technology giant that now dominates search, advertising, and artificial intelligence.Page’s “lazy” approach has proven remarkably successful. Google went public in August 2004 at $85 per share with a $23 billion valuation. Today, parent company Alphabet ranks eighth on Fortune’s 500 list and second globally among tech companies by revenue. The company’s mission to “organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful” exemplifies Page’s leverage principle.
Technology creates opportunities for ambitious graduates
Current Google CEO Sundar Pichai, recently named to the billionaires club with a $1.1 billion net worth, echoes similar themes about embracing discomfort and working with excellent people. However, the modern tech landscape presents different challenges, with some Google executives now advocating 60-hour workweeks during the AI development race.Despite industry pressures, Page’s original message remains relevant for today’s graduates facing uncertain job markets shaped by artificial intelligence. “Don’t give up on your dreams. The world needs you all,” he concluded, encouraging ambitious young people to follow their curiosity while seeking technological leverage to amplify their impact.
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