Their current tech is weaker because they couldn't release the full version due to the additional safeguards (partly to prevent more people claiming their AI is sentient) and partly also due to cost cutting.
> We’re releasing it initially with our lightweight model version of LaMDA. This much smaller model requires significantly less computing power
Translation: we cannot release our full model because it costs too much. We are giving the world a cheap and worse version due to cost cutting.
> It’s critical that we bring experiences rooted in these models to the world in a bold and responsible way. That’s why we’re committed to developing AI responsibly
Translation: we value responsible AI so much that we'd nerf the capability of the AI to be "responsible"
If someone more ambitious than Sundar were to be CEO I'm sure the recent events would turn out very differently.
