Microsoft's former CEO Steve Ballmer once dismissed Google's Chrome browser as "a rounding error" shortly after its 2008 launch. Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently recalled this moment during a commencement address at Stanford University, sharing how he used the criticism to motivate the Chrome team.
Ballmer's comment and Pichai's response
Speaking at the event, Pichai said that Ballmer's remark could have been demoralizing for the team at a time when Chrome was struggling to gain traction against Microsoft's dominant Internet Explorer. Instead, he chose to frame it positively. "It could have been demoralising. But with that California optimism, I told the team that the fact he went out of his way to dismiss us meant we were doing something right," Pichai said.
In 2008, Chrome launched when Internet Explorer commanded about 60% of global browser usage. A year later, Ballmer downplayed Chrome's significance in an interview, stating, "The most successful by far is Firefox. Chrome is a rounding error to date. Safari is a rounding error to date."
How Pichai kept the Chrome team motivated
According to Pichai, Chrome saw early momentum but growth later slowed, with market share stuck in the low single digits. Instead of lowering expectations, the team focused on improving through frequent updates and ambitious goals. "We kept going, setting highly aggressive stretch goals to keep the team pushing. We rapidly iterated, shipping the browser every six weeks while others shipped one, maybe every six months to a year. Success began to follow," Pichai noted.
This approach helped Chrome steadily gain users. By 2012, it surpassed competitors to become the world's most-used browser, a milestone that also boosted Pichai's standing within Google before he eventually became CEO.
Pichai's advice to graduates
Drawing from Chrome's early challenges, Pichai urged graduates to take on difficult projects even when success is uncertain. He said, "Working on hard things has taught me a lot: it typically attracts other great and optimistic people. And even if you miss meeting the high goals you set, you'll still achieve something great."
He added, "So when you have the choice to work on something hard—say yes." Pichai also encouraged students to follow their interests rather than external expectations. "As you look at your own path, don't focus on the thing your parents want you to do, or the thing all your friends are doing, or that society expects of you. Instead, think about the things that keep you chatting excitedly with your roommates late into the night. And go do those things," he advised.
This story was originally published by The Times of India's TOI Tech Desk, a team dedicated to delivering the latest technology news.
