Google: Difference between revisions

= Google =

'''Google''' is a 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 since grown into one of the world's most valuable companies and a dominant force in the technology industry.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Google |url=https://about.google/ |publisher=Google |access-date=2023-10-10}}</ref>

Google was officially founded on **September 4, 1998**, by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who developed a [[search algorithm]] called [[PageRank]] while at Stanford. The algorithm analyzed the relationships between websites to determine their importance, providing more relevant search results than existing methods.<ref>{{cite book |last=Page |first=Larry |title=The Anatomy of a Large-Scale Hypertextual Web Search Engine |year=1998 |publisher=Stanford University}}</ref>

* The company's first office was a rented garage in [[Menlo Park, California]].

* In 1999, Google moved to [[Mountain View, California]], where its headquarters, the [[Googleplex]], remains today.

* The company launched [[AdWords]] in 2000, introducing a pay-per-click advertising model that became a major revenue source.<ref>{{cite news |title=Google AdWords Launches |url=https://www.wired.com/2000/10/google-adwords-launches/ |work=Wired |date=2000-10-23}}</ref>

=== Expansion and IPO (2004–2010) ===

* Google went public on **August 19, 2004**, with an [[initial public offering]] (IPO) that raised $1.67 billion.

* The company expanded its product lineup, introducing [[Gmail]] (2004), [[Google Maps]] (2005), and [[Google Chrome]] (2008).

* In 2006, Google acquired [[YouTube]], which became the world's largest [[video-sharing platform]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Google Buys YouTube for $1.65 Billion |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/09/business/09cnd-deal.html |work=The New York Times |date=2006-10-09}}</ref>

* In 2015, Google reorganized under a new parent company, [[Alphabet Inc.]], to separate its core businesses from newer ventures like [[Waymo]] (self-driving cars) and [[Verily]] (life sciences).

* Google continues to dominate the search engine market, with over **90% global market share** as of 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Search Engine Market Share Worldwide |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/search-engine-market-share |publisher=StatCounter |access-date=2023-10-10}}</ref>

== Products and Services ==

=== Search Engine ===

* [[Google Search]] is the company's flagship product, processing billions of queries daily.

* Features like [[Google Knowledge Graph]] and [[Featured Snippets]] enhance search results with structured data.

=== Advertising ===

* [[Google Ads]] (formerly AdWords) allows businesses to display ads on Google's platforms.

* [[Google AdSense]] enables publishers to monetize their websites with targeted ads.

=== Cloud Computing ===

* [[Google Cloud Platform]] (GCP) provides infrastructure and software services for businesses.

* [[Google Workspace]] (formerly G Suite) includes productivity tools like [[Gmail]], [[Google Drive]], and [[Google Docs]].

* Google manufactures hardware such as [[Pixel (smartphone)|Pixel smartphones]], [[Google Nest|Nest smart home devices]], and [[Chromecast]].

=== Artificial Intelligence ===

* [[Google AI]] develops machine learning technologies like [[TensorFlow]] and [[Bard (chatbot)|Bard]], an AI chatbot.

== Corporate Structure and Culture ==

Google operates under Alphabet Inc., with [[Sundar Pichai]] serving as CEO since 2015. The company is known for its unconventional workplace culture, including:

* [[20% time]], allowing employees to spend one-fifth of their time on side projects.

* Open office layouts and perks like free meals and on-site gyms.<ref>{{cite book |last=Levy |first=Steven |title=In the Plex: How Google Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives |year=2011 |publisher=Simon & Schuster}}</ref>

Google has faced scrutiny over several issues:

=== Privacy Concerns ===

* The company has been criticized for collecting user data through services like [[Google Analytics]] and [[Google Street View]].

* In 2019, Google was fined **€50 million** by France for violating the [[General Data Protection Regulation]] (GDPR).<ref>{{cite news |title=Google Fined €50 Million by France for GDPR Violation |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-46944696 |work=BBC News |date=2019-01-21}}</ref>

=== Antitrust Issues ===

* Google has been accused of monopolistic practices, including favoring its own services in search results.

* In 2020, the [[U.S. Department of Justice]] filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google for alleged anti-competitive behavior.<ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. Sues Google for Antitrust Violations |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-accuses-google-of-illegally-protecting-monopoly-11603155759 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=2020-10-20}}</ref>

=== Censorship and Ethics ===

* Google has been criticized for complying with censorship requests in countries like [[China]] (e.g., [[Project Dragonfly]]).

* Employees have protested the company's contracts with military and government agencies, such as [[Project Maven]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Google Employees Protest Work on Pentagon AI Project |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/04/technology/google-letter-ceo-pentagon-project.html |work=The New York Times |date=2018-04-04}}</ref>

== Influence and Impact ==

Google has profoundly shaped the internet and modern technology:

* Its search engine revolutionized information access, making it the most visited website globally.

* Android, acquired in 2005, powers over **70% of smartphones** worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mobile Operating System Market Share |url=https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/mobile/worldwide |publisher=StatCounter |access-date=2023-10-10}}</ref>

* Google's innovations in AI, cloud computing, and advertising have set industry standards.

== See Also ==

* [[Criticism of Google]]

<references />

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

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

[[Category:Web search engines]]