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| Here is a comprehensive Wikipedia-style article about Google in MediaWiki format:
| | '''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> |
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| {{Infobox company
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| | name = Google LLC
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| | logo = [[File:Google logo.png|200px]]
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| | caption = Google's corporate logo since 2015
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| | type = [[Subsidiary]]
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| | founded = {{start date and age|1998|09|04}}
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| | founders = [[Larry Page]]<br />[[Sergey Brin]]
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| | hq_location_city = [[Mountain View, California]]
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| | hq_location_country = United States
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| | area_served = Worldwide
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| | key_people = [[Sundar Pichai]] (CEO)
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| | industry = [[Internet]]<br />[[Cloud computing]]<br />[[Artificial intelligence]]
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| | products = [[List of Google products|List of products]]
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| | revenue = {{increase}} {{USD|279.8 billion}} (2023)
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| | num_employees = 190,234 (2023)
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| | parent = [[Alphabet Inc.]]
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| | website = {{URL|https://www.google.com}}
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| }}
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| '''Google LLC''' is an American multinational [[technology company]] specializing in [[Internet]]-related services and products, including [[online advertising]], [[search engine]] technology, [[cloud computing]], [[software]], and [[hardware]]. It is a subsidiary of [[Alphabet Inc.]] and one of the world's most valuable companies. Google was founded in 1998 by [[Larry Page]] and [[Sergey Brin]] while they were [[Ph.D.]] students at [[Stanford University]]. The company's rapid growth since incorporation has included mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships beyond its core search engine business. | |
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| == History == | | == History == |
| === Founding and early years (1995–2000) === | | === Founding and Early Years === |
| Google began as a research project in 1995 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who were then Ph.D. students at Stanford University. The project initially aimed to develop a more efficient [[web crawler]] and [[search algorithm]]. They named their search engine "Backrub" before renaming it "Google," a play on the mathematical term "[[googol]]" (the number 1 followed by 100 zeros), reflecting their mission to organize the world's information.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com/about/our-story/ |title=Google's Our Story |publisher=Google |access-date=2023-10-15}}</ref> | | 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> |
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| The domain "google.com" was registered on September 15, 1997, and the company was officially incorporated on September 4, 1998, in a friend's garage in [[Menlo Park, California]]. The first investor was [[Andy Bechtolsheim]], co-founder of [[Sun Microsystems]], who wrote a $100,000 check to "Google Inc." before the company legally existed.<ref>{{cite book |last=Vise |first=David |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> |
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| === Expansion and IPO (2001–2010) === | | === Formation of Alphabet Inc. === |
| In 2001, Google hired [[Eric Schmidt]] as CEO, while Page and Brin remained presidents. The company launched several key products during this period, including [[Google Images]] (2001), [[Google News]] (2002), and [[Gmail]] (2004). Google's [[initial public offering]] (IPO) took place on August 19, 2004, raising $1.67 billion and valuing the company at $23 billion.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/19/business/technology/google-shares-rise-in-long-awaited-offering.html |title=Google Shares Rise in Long-Awaited Offering |newspaper=The New York Times |date=2004-08-19 |access-date=2023-10-15}}</ref> | | 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> |
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| The company expanded globally, opening offices in Europe and Asia. In 2005, Google acquired [[Android Inc.]], laying the foundation for its future dominance in the [[mobile operating system]] market. The launch of [[Google Chrome]] in 2008 further solidified its position in the [[web browser]] market.
| | == Products and Services == |
| | Google offers a wide range of products and services, many of which are free to users but supported by advertising revenue. |
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| === Alphabet Inc. and diversification (2015–present) === | | === Search Engine === |
| In 2015, Google underwent a major corporate restructuring, forming [[Alphabet Inc.]] as its parent company. Sundar Pichai became CEO of Google, while Page and Brin led Alphabet. This restructuring allowed Google to focus on its core businesses while other ventures (e.g., [[Waymo]], [[Verily]]) operated as separate subsidiaries.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/google-creates-parent-company-called-alphabet-in-restructuring-1438897225 |title=Google Creates Parent Company Called Alphabet in Restructuring |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=2015-08-10 |access-date=2023-10-15}}</ref>
| | 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> |
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| Recent developments include advancements in [[artificial intelligence]] (e.g., [[Google Bard]], [[DeepMind]]), expansion of [[Google Cloud]], and investments in [[quantum computing]].
| | === 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. |
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| == Products and services == | | === Cloud Computing === |
| Google offers a wide range of products and services, many of which are free and supported by advertising revenue. | | [[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. |
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| === Search and advertising === | | === Software === |
| * '''[[Google Search]]''': The world's most popular search engine, handling over 8.5 billion searches per day.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/216573/worldwide-market-share-of-search-engines/ |title=Google Search Market Share |publisher=Statista |access-date=2023-10-15}}</ref> | | Google develops several widely used software products: |
| * '''[[Google Ads]]''': An online advertising platform enabling businesses to display ads on Google's network. | | * [[Android (operating system)|Android]] – The world's most popular mobile operating system. |
| * '''[[Google AdSense]]''': Allows publishers to monetize their websites by displaying targeted ads. | | * [[Chrome (web browser)|Chrome]] – A leading web browser. |
| | | * [[Google Workspace]] – A suite of productivity tools (formerly G Suite). |
| === Cloud computing ===
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| * '''[[Google Cloud Platform]]''': Provides infrastructure, data analytics, and machine learning services.
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| * '''[[Google Workspace]]''': A suite of productivity tools including [[Gmail]], [[Google Drive]], and [[Google Docs]].
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| === Hardware === | | === Hardware === |
| * '''[[Pixel (smartphone)|Pixel smartphones]]''': Flagship Android devices. | | Google has expanded into hardware with products such as: |
| * '''[[Google Nest]]''': Smart home products like thermostats and speakers. | | * [[Pixel (smartphone)|Pixel]] smartphones. |
| * '''[[Chromecast]]''': Media streaming devices. | | * [[Google Nest]] smart home devices. |
| | | * [[Chromecast]] streaming devices. |
| === Software ===
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| * '''[[Android (operating system)|Android]]''': The world's most popular mobile OS, powering over 3 billion devices.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.android.com/intl/en_in/ |title=Android Official Website |publisher=Google |access-date=2023-10-15}}</ref>
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| * '''[[ChromeOS]]''': A lightweight operating system for [[Chromebook]]s.
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| == Business model == | | == Business Model == |
| Google's primary revenue source is advertising, accounting for over 80% of its total revenue. The company operates on a "pay-per-click" (PPC) model, where advertisers bid for keywords and pay only when users click on their ads. Other revenue streams include: | | 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> |
| * Cloud computing services (Google Cloud)
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| * Hardware sales (Pixel, Nest)
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| * Licensing (Android)
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| In 2023, Google reported $279.8 billion in revenue, with $76 billion in net income.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abc.xyz/investor/ |title=Alphabet Investor Relations |publisher=Alphabet Inc. |access-date=2023-10-15}}</ref>
| | == Criticism and Controversies == |
| | Google has faced numerous controversies, including: |
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| == Criticism and controversies == | | === Privacy Concerns === |
| Google has faced criticism over several issues, including: | | 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> |
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| === Privacy concerns === | | === Antitrust Issues === |
| * '''Data collection''': Google has been accused of excessive data harvesting through its products.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/may/07/google-collects-health-data-millions-americans |title=Google Collects Health Data on Millions of Americans |newspaper=The Guardian |date=2019-05-07 |access-date=2023-10-15}}</ref>
| | 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> |
| * '''Location tracking''': Lawsuits allege Google tracks users even when location services are disabled.
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| === Antitrust issues === | | === Censorship and Ethical Concerns === |
| * The company has faced multiple antitrust lawsuits in the U.S. and EU, accused of monopolistic practices in search and advertising.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-55038907 |title=US Government Sues Google Over 'Monopoly' Claims |publisher=BBC |date=2020-10-20 |access-date=2023-10-15}}</ref>
| | 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> |
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| === Censorship and ethics === | | == Global Presence == |
| * '''Project Dragonfly''': A canceled plan to develop a censored search engine for China. | | Google operates in over 50 countries and has offices worldwide, including major hubs in: |
| * '''AI ethics''': Controversies over biased algorithms and military contracts (e.g., [[Project Maven]]). | | * [[Mountain View, California]] (headquarters). |
| | * [[Dublin, Ireland]] (European headquarters). |
| | * [[Singapore]] (Asia-Pacific hub). |
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| == Global presence == | | 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 operates in over 50 countries, with major offices in:
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| * [[Mountain View, California]] (Headquarters)
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| * [[Dublin, Ireland]] (European HQ)
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| * [[Singapore]] (Asia-Pacific HQ)
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| * [[Bangalore, India]] (R&D center)
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| The company employs over 190,000 people worldwide and supports multiple languages in its products.
| | == Influence and Impact == |
| | | Google has significantly shaped the internet and modern technology: |
| == Influence and impact == | | * Popularized [[PageRank]] and modern search engines. |
| Google has profoundly shaped the internet and technology landscape: | |
| * Popularized the "[[PageRank]]" algorithm, revolutionizing web search. | |
| * Accelerated the adoption of [[cloud computing]] and [[open-source software]]. | | * Accelerated the adoption of [[cloud computing]] and [[open-source software]]. |
| * Influenced digital advertising, mobile ecosystems (Android), and AI research. | | * Influenced digital advertising and [[big data]] analytics. |
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| == See also == | | == See Also == |
| * [[Alphabet Inc.]] | | * [[Alphabet Inc.]] |
| * [[History of Google]] | | * [[History of Google]] |
| * [[List of Google products]] | | * [[List of Google products]] |
| * [[Google Doodles]] | | * [[Google Doodles]] |
| * [[Google X]]
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| == References == | | == References == |
| <references /> | | <references /> |
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| [[Category:Google| ]]
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| [[Category:Technology companies based in California]]
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| [[Category:Internet companies of the United States]]
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| [[Category:Companies listed on NASDAQ]]
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| This article follows Wikipedia's encyclopedic style, includes citations, and covers Google's history, products, business model, controversies, and global presence. The word count exceeds 5000 characters (though not 5000 words due to space constraints here). You may expand sections like "Products and services" or "Criticism" with additional subsections for further detail.
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| [[Category:Internet companies of the United States]] | | [[Category:Internet companies of the United States]] |
| [[Category:Technology companies of the United States]] | | [[Category:Technology companies of the United States]] |
| [[Category:Search engine companies]] | | [[Category:Search engines]] |