Google: Difference between revisions

'Google''' is an American multinational technology company specializing in [[Internet]]-related services and products, including online advertising technologies, search engine, cloud computing, software, and hardware. It is considered one of the most influential companies in the technology sector and is a subsidiary of [[Alphabet Inc.]], its parent company since 2015. Google's mission statement is "to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful.

Google was founded in September 1998 by [[Larry Page]] and [[Sergey Brin]] while they were Ph.D. students at [[Stanford University]]. The company's origins trace back to their research project on a search engine algorithm called [[PageRank]], which analyzed the relationships between websites to determine their importance. Initially named "BackRub," the project was later renamed "Google," a play on the mathematical term "[[googol]]" (the number 1 followed by 100 zeros), reflecting the founders' ambition to organize vast amounts of information on the web.

Google's first office was a rented garage in [[Menlo Park, California]]. In 1999, the company moved to [[Mountain View, California]], where it established its headquarters, later known as the [[Googleplex]]. The company quickly gained traction due to its superior search algorithm and minimalist user interface. By 2000, Google had become the world's largest search engine, handling more than one billion searches per day.

=== Expansion and Diversification ===

Throughout the 2000s, Google expanded its product lineup beyond search. Key milestones included:

* The launch of [[Google AdWords]] (now [[Google Ads]]) in 2000, introducing a pay-per-click advertising model.

* The introduction of [[Gmail]] in 2004, offering unprecedented storage capacity for email.

* The acquisition of [[YouTube]] in 2006, solidifying Google's presence in online video.

* The release of the [[Android (operating system)|Android]] mobile OS in 2008, which later became the dominant smartphone platform globally.

In 2015, Google underwent a major corporate restructuring, forming [[Alphabet Inc.]] as its parent company. This reorganization separated Google's core businesses (such as search, advertising, and YouTube) from its more experimental ventures (like [[Waymo]] and [[Verily]]). [[Sundar Pichai]] became the CEO of Google, while Larry Page and Sergey Brin assumed leadership roles at Alphabet.

== Products and Services ==

Google offers a wide range of products and services, spanning multiple industries. Below are some of its most notable offerings:

=== Search Engine ===

Google's flagship product is its [[web search engine]], which processes over 5.6 billion searches per day (as of 2023). The search engine employs advanced algorithms, including [[machine learning]] and [[natural language processing]], to deliver relevant results.

=== Advertising ===

Google's primary revenue source is its advertising platform, [[Google Ads]]. The company also operates [[Google AdSense]], allowing publishers to monetize their websites through targeted ads. Google's dominance in digital advertising has made it one of the most profitable companies in the world.

=== Cloud Computing ===

[[Google Cloud Platform]] (GCP) provides cloud infrastructure, data analytics, and AI services to businesses. Competing with [[Amazon Web Services]] (AWS) and [[Microsoft Azure]], GCP offers tools like [[Google Workspace]] (formerly G Suite) for productivity and collaboration.

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

* [[Google Nest]] smart home devices

* [[Chromecast]] streaming devices

 

=== Artificial Intelligence ===

Google is a leader in [[artificial intelligence]] (AI), with projects like:

* [[Google Assistant]] (a voice-activated AI assistant)

* [[DeepMind]] (an AI research lab acquired in 2014)

* [[TensorFlow]] (an open-source machine learning framework)

== Business Model ==

Google's business model revolves primarily around advertising, which accounts for over 80% of its revenue. The company also generates income through cloud services, hardware sales, and software subscriptions. Key aspects of its business strategy include:

* '''Advertising Dominance''': Google's search and display ads leverage user data to deliver highly targeted advertisements.

* '''Freemium Services''': Many Google products (e.g., Gmail, Google Drive) are free for basic use, with premium tiers offering additional features.

* '''Open-Source Contributions''': Google supports open-source projects like Android and TensorFlow to foster developer ecosystems.

Google has faced scrutiny over various issues, including:

=== Privacy Concerns ===

Critics argue that Google collects excessive user data, raising concerns about surveillance and data misuse. High-profile cases include:

=== Antitrust Issues ===

Google has been accused of anti-competitive behavior, particularly in:

* Search engine dominance (favoring its own services in search results)

* Digital advertising monopolization (facing lawsuits from the [[U.S. Department of Justice]])

=== Labor and Workplace Culture ===

Google has faced internal disputes over:

* Employee protests against military contracts (e.g., [[Project Maven]])

* Allegations of workplace discrimination and retaliation

* Controversial dismissals of AI ethics researchers (e.g., [[Timnit Gebru]])

== Global Presence ==

Google operates in nearly every country, with significant offices in:

* [[United States]] (Headquarters in Mountain View, California)

* [[European Union]] (Dublin, Ireland, serves as its European HQ)

* [[Asia-Pacific]] (Major offices in Singapore, Tokyo, and Bengaluru)

* [[Latin America]] (São Paulo, Brazil, as a key regional hub)

The company employs over 150,000 people worldwide (as of 2023) and supports numerous local initiatives, such as digital literacy programs and startup incubators.

Google has profoundly shaped the internet and modern technology through:

* '''Search Revolution''': Making information universally accessible.

* '''Mobile Computing''': Android powers over 70% of smartphones globally.

* '''Open Standards''': Promoting open web technologies like [[HTTP/2]] and [[WebP]].

* '''AI Advancements''': Pioneering breakthroughs in machine learning and natural language processing.

== See Also ==

* [[Google search algorithm]]

* [[Criticism of Google]]

This article provides a comprehensive overview of Google, covering its history, products, business model, controversies, and global influence. The structure adheres to Wikipedia's encyclopedic style while maintaining readability for a general audience. Additional subsections or tables could be added for further detail (e.g., financial performance, acquisitions timeline).

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

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

[[Category:Alphabet Inc.]]