Google: Difference between revisions

'''Google''' is an American multinational technology company specializing in [[Internet]]-related services and products, including [[online advertising]], [[search engine]] technology, [[cloud computing]], [[software]], and [[hardware]]. Founded in 1998 by [[Larry Page]] and [[Sergey Brin]] while they were [[Ph.D.]] students at [[Stanford University]], Google has grown to become one of the most influential companies in the world. The company is a subsidiary of [[Alphabet Inc.]], a holding company formed in 2015 to oversee Google and its various subsidiaries.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Google |url=https://about.google/ |publisher=Google |access-date=2023-10-10}}</ref>

=== Founding and Early Years ===

Google was officially founded on September 4, 1998, by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who developed a [[search algorithm]] called [[PageRank]] while studying at Stanford University. The algorithm analyzed the relationships between websites to determine their importance, providing more relevant search results than existing methods. The domain name "google.com" was registered on September 15, 1997, and the company was incorporated in a friend's garage in [[Menlo Park, California]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Page |first=Larry |title=The Google Story |year=2005 |publisher=Delacorte Press |isbn=978-0-553-80457-7}}</ref>

=== Expansion and IPO ===

In 2000, Google launched [[Google AdWords]], an advertising platform that allowed businesses to display ads alongside search results. This became a major revenue source. The company went public in 2004 through an [[initial public offering]] (IPO), raising $1.67 billion and valuing the company at $23 billion. By 2006, Google had expanded into new areas, including [[Google Maps]], [[Google Earth]], and [[Gmail]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Google's IPO: A Look Back |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/19/business/google-s-ipo-a-look-back.html |work=The New York Times |date=2004-08-19 |access-date=2023-10-10}}</ref>

=== Formation of Alphabet Inc. ===

In 2015, Google reorganized under a new holding company, Alphabet Inc., to separate its core internet business from newer ventures like [[Waymo]] (self-driving cars) and [[Verily]] (life sciences). Sundar Pichai became CEO of Google, while Larry Page and Sergey Brin took leadership roles at Alphabet.<ref>{{cite web |title=Google to Reorganize Under New Holding Company, Alphabet |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/google-to-reorganize-under-new-holding-company-alphabet-1438897225 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=2015-08-10 |access-date=2023-10-10}}</ref>

== Products and Services ==

Google offers a wide range of products and services, many of which are free to users but supported by advertising revenue.

=== Search Engine ===

Google's flagship product is its [[search engine]], which processes billions of queries daily. The search engine uses advanced algorithms, including [[machine learning]] and [[natural language processing]], to deliver relevant results.<ref>{{cite web |title=How Search Works |url=https://www.google.com/search/howsearchworks/ |publisher=Google |access-date=2023-10-10}}</ref>

=== Advertising ===

Google's primary revenue source is its advertising platform, which includes:

* [[Google Ads]] (formerly AdWords) – Pay-per-click advertising.

* [[Google AdSense]] – Allows publishers to display ads on their websites.

* [[Google Display Network]] – A network of websites that host Google ads.

=== Cloud Computing ===

[[Google Cloud Platform]] (GCP) provides cloud computing services, including:

* [[Google Compute Engine]] – Infrastructure as a service (IaaS).

* [[Google App Engine]] – Platform as a service (PaaS).

* [[Google Kubernetes Engine]] – Managed [[Kubernetes]] service.

* [[Android (operating system)|Android]] – The world's most popular mobile operating system.

* [[Chrome (web browser)|Chrome]] – A leading web browser.

* [[Google Workspace]] – A suite of productivity tools (formerly G Suite).

* [[Pixel (smartphone)|Pixel]] smartphones.

* [[Google Nest]] smart home devices.

* [[Chromecast]] streaming devices.

== Business Model ==

Google's business model is primarily based on advertising, which accounts for over 80% of its revenue. The company also earns income from cloud computing, hardware sales, and subscription services like [[YouTube Premium]] and [[Google One]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Google Annual Report 2022 |url=https://abc.xyz/investor/ |publisher=Alphabet Inc. |access-date=2023-10-10}}</ref>

Google has faced numerous controversies, including:

=== Privacy Concerns ===

Critics argue that Google collects excessive user data through its services. The company has been fined by regulators, such as the [[European Union]], for violating [[General Data Protection Regulation|GDPR]] laws.<ref>{{cite news |title=Google Fined €50 Million by French Data Privacy Regulator |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-47087000 |work=BBC News |date=2019-01-21 |access-date=2023-10-10}}</ref>

=== Antitrust Issues ===

Google has been accused of monopolistic practices, particularly in search and advertising. In 2020, the [[U.S. Department of Justice]] filed an antitrust lawsuit against the company.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. vs. Google Antitrust Case |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-monopolist-google-violating-antitrust-laws |publisher=U.S. Department of Justice |date=2020-10-20 |access-date=2023-10-10}}</ref>

=== Censorship and Ethical Concerns ===

Google has been criticized for complying with censorship requests in countries like [[China]] and for its involvement in military AI projects like [[Project Maven]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Google and the China Dilemma |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/17/technology/google-china-censorship.html |work=The New York Times |date=2018-12-17 |access-date=2023-10-10}}</ref>

== Global Presence ==

Google operates in over 50 countries and has offices worldwide, including major hubs in:

* [[Mountain View, California]] (headquarters).

* [[Dublin, Ireland]] (European headquarters).

* [[Singapore]] (Asia-Pacific hub).

The company employs over 150,000 people and supports numerous languages in its products.<ref>{{cite web |title=Google Offices |url=https://www.google.com/about/locations/ |publisher=Google |access-date=2023-10-10}}</ref>

Google has significantly shaped the internet and modern technology:

* Popularized [[PageRank]] and modern search engines.

* Accelerated the adoption of [[cloud computing]] and [[open-source software]].

* Influenced digital advertising and [[big data]] analytics.

== See Also ==

* [[Google Doodles]]

<references />

[[Category:Internet companies of the United States]]

[[Category:Technology companies of the United States]]