Larry Page’s Career Advice: Embrace Technology to Be More "Lazy" and Achieve Greater Impact
By TOI Tech Desk | August 31, 2025
In an unconventional yet insightful commencement speech delivered to the University of Michigan graduates back in 2009, Google co-founder Larry Page encouraged students to rethink their approach to work and productivity by harnessing the power of technology. Contrary to traditional beliefs that hard work means long hours and physical effort, Page advised leveraging technology to achieve greater efficiency — or in his words, to be more “lazy.”
Leveraging Technology Over Manual Labor
Page’s advice was rooted in the core philosophy that propelled Google from a modest startup to a global technology behemoth valued at over $2.3 trillion today. Reflecting on Google’s early days at Stanford University in the late 1990s, he shared how a simple suggestion from his advisor to "work on the web for a while" set the foundation for building a revolutionary search engine. This timely move took advantage of the internet’s explosive growth period, demonstrating the immense leverage technology can provide.
He illustrated his message with a vivid 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 highlights the scalability that technology allows, vastly outpacing traditional manual effort and straightforward hard work.
The Birth of Google and Its Scalable Vision
Google went public in 2004 with a valuation of $23 billion, trading at $85 per share. Since then, it has evolved under the umbrella of Alphabet Inc., becoming a dominant force in search, advertising, and artificial intelligence. The company’s mission to “organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful” reflects Page’s vision of harnessing technology as a multiplier of human effort and creativity.
Today, Alphabet ranks eighth on the Fortune 500 list and is the second-largest tech company by revenue globally. Larry Page’s innovative mindset about "working smarter, not harder" and embracing technological leverage rather than brute effort has been a cornerstone of Google’s success story.
Technology and the Modern Workforce
Current Google CEO Sundar Pichai, himself recently joining the billionaires’ club with a net worth exceeding $1 billion, reinforces similar themes around collaboration, embracing challenges, and the importance of working alongside talented individuals. However, he also acknowledges that the industry’s evolving dynamics, especially the ongoing AI development race, sometimes demand rigorous work schedules, with some leaders advocating 60-hour workweeks to stay competitive.
Despite these pressures, Larry Page’s foundational message remains highly relevant, especially for today’s graduates entering a workforce increasingly transformed by artificial intelligence and automation. His call to “not give up on your dreams” and to seek technological leverage encourages ambitious young minds to amplify their impact by innovating and utilizing digital tools smartly.
Final Thoughts
Larry Page’s unconventional advice to "be lazy" through technology isn’t about shirking effort, but about working more strategically—creating systems and software that can reach millions without multiplying human labor the same way. His story exemplifies how visionary thinking combined with technological leverage can produce transformative results.
As graduates and professionals navigate a landscape marked by rapid technological changes and uncertainty, this philosophy offers a powerful framework: prioritize creativity and innovation, use technology to expand your reach, and let smart work pave the way for greater accomplishments.
About the Author
The TOI Tech Desk is a dedicated team within The Times of India focused on delivering the latest, most accurate, and relevant technology news. Covering everything from gadget launches and reviews to deep dives on AI, cybersecurity, and social media trends, TOI Tech Desk brings insightful technology coverage to readers across India and beyond.
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