Google CEO Sundar Pichai set to return to Stanford University as a commencement speaker: ‘It’s a privilege’

Google CEO Sundar Pichai is set to inspire the next generation as he returns to Stanford University to serve as the commencement speaker for the 135th graduation ceremony on Sunday, 14 June 2026. This will be his first in-person address at his alma mater.Stanford President Jonathan Levin described Pichai as “a deeply thoughtful leader who understands how technology can improve society and transform lives.” (REUTERS)Pichai, who grew up in Chennai, India, earned a master’s degree in materials science and engineering from Stanford. He first came to the campus as a graduate student and now returns to share his experiences and advice with the Class of 2026.“It’s a privilege to speak to the Stanford graduates,” Pichai said. “From my first days on campus, I knew Stanford was an extraordinary place. I’m excited to celebrate this milestone with the graduates, their families, and friends.”Also Read: Google CEO Sundar Pichai lands in India for AI summit: ‘Nice to be back’Stanford leaders praise Pichai:Stanford President Jonathan Levin described Pichai as “a deeply thoughtful leader who understands how technology can improve society and transform lives,” adding that he “epitomises what it means for a Stanford graduate to have a broad impact.”“I’m excited to hear his reflections and advice to our graduates as they take the next step into their own futures,” he added.According to an announcement the University, the speaker was selected Stanford’s senior class presidents in collaboration with the Office of the President. “Building a meaningful life, like building a world-class company, requires the mindset of running a marathon, not a sprint,” said Rishi Jain, representing the six class presidents. “Sundar Pichai perfectly embodies that philosophy.”“We can think of no better embodiment of that philosophy than our 2026 Commencement speaker and Google and Alphabet CEO, Sundar Pichai,” Jain said.Also Read: Sundar Pichai congratulates India on winning ICC Men’s T20 World Cup: ‘Chose the wrong game to go watch’CEO returns to Stanford:Pichai joined Google in 2004 and helped lead the development of Google Toolbar and Google Chrome, now the world’s most popular web browser. He became CEO of Google in 2015 and CEO of Alphabet, Google’s parent company, in 2019. He has been on Alphabet’s Board of Directors since 2017.His only previous graduation remarks were delivered virtually in 2020 during a special YouTube event for the Class of 2020. Stanford’s 2026 Commencement, scheduled from 11-14 June, will celebrate graduates with a full weekend of events for students, families, and the university community.