Google is a search company.
OK, Google started as a search company in 1998, when Sergey Brin and Larry Page were doctoral students at Stanford. And fifteen years later? Google is a verb. That's how ingrained it's become into our lexicon, as well as into our lives. If you want to know something, you "Google" it.
On August 10, 2015, Google became part of the umbrella company, Alphabet, with Sundar Pichai taking charge as CEO. The announcement came as a surprise to everyone when it was dropped on Google's blog by Larry Page.
Of course, Google is so much more now. It's an advertising company (which still provides the bulk of its revenue). It's a video-hosting company, with YouTube. It's a social network, with Google+. It's a mobile company, with Android. It's leading the wearables revolution with Google Glass and Android Wear. Google's making inroads into enterprise with its web-based infrastructures, to the point where municipal governments and private businesses alike are ditching the server racks for the cloud. It's seeking to change the way we use computers with its not-quite-a-thin-client Chromebooks.
And that was just the first 15 years.
Where will Google go next? That's a question many of us can't wait to see answered. And, understandably, it's a question many are wary of. Is Google too big? Is it too powerful? Does it know too much? Is it doing the right things for the right reasons? Or is it just trying to become as rich and powerful as it possibly can? Those are all fair questions, and ones that Google should ask itself, and ones that we as its customers should continue to it.
Latest about Google
US judge finds Google in violation of antitrust laws in the ad-tech space
A remedy is next A US judge has reportedly found Google to have monopolized a portion of its ad-tech business.
Google Chrome finally brings the long-awaited bottom address bar for Android
Handy address bar The new bottom address bar allows users to navigate and open tabs in the browser quite easily and is useful for large screen Android devices.
Google quietly confirmed Google Assistant's days on Fitbit watches are numbered
Gone for good Google Assistant on Fitbit watches is going away, but Amazon Alexa might remain.
The Google Home app seemingly has a few small changes for its UI in the works
Subtle Differences Google seems to have a few Home app UI tweaks in the works for a future update.
Google Wallet brings real-time train status alerts to Android, and teases I/O 2025
Now arriving at... Google started rolling out an update for Wallet that brings train status updates.
Google Search is getting a unified domain for US and global users
.com Google will use ".com" domains globally now, because it no longer uses country-coded URLs to provide local results.
Gemini's rumored automated tasks might borrow from the competition
Gemini's on it Google code might've teased an upcoming automation feature for Gemini.
Google rolls out an auto-reboot feature for Android phones to safeguard data
Protected, just in case Another Play Services update brings a security feature to Android phones.
Gemini Advanced, Whisk users pick up Veo 2 for shareable cinematic video clips
And... action! Google detailed the arrival of Veo 2 in Whisk and Gemini Advanced for global users.
Google's ugly Pixel 9a design is exactly what you wanted
Careful what you wish for Google's decision to remove the Pixel camera bar on the Pixel 9a has been controversial, but the discourse proves people don't really know what they want.
Google tests a new home for AI Mode in its Search bar for Android app users
Testing Google is playtesting a slight rework for its AI Mode in its main Android app.
News Weekly: Google lays off hundreds, Pixel 10 prices leak, Motorola teases its new Razr, and more
News Weekly This week Google lays off hundreds, Google Pixel 10 series price leaks, Motorola drops a slick Razr teaser, One UI 7 reached more hands, and Galaxy Z Fold 7 get some good upgrades.
Google Messages will soon use color to differentiate RCS and SMS, MMS users
Color coded Google Messages will use tags and colors to differentiate SMS, MMS, and RCS users before you send a message in a future update.
Google layoffs hit again, hundreds in Android and Pixel teams impacted
More cuts Google has cut more jobs within the Android and Pixel teams, quoting the same efficiency reason as in the past.
Google's Veo 2 becomes widely available as it teases Gemini 2.5 Flash
Rolling out At Google Cloud Next, the company previewed the next Gemini 2.5 Flash model and announced that Veo 2 is now widely available.
I spent weeks with the Google Pixel 9a and the Pixel 9 — you should buy this one
Pixel perfect The Google Pixel 9 is often on sale for just slightly more than the midrange Pixel 9a, so why buy the latter?
Google Pixel's April security update fixes its troublesome screen flicker
Staying Sharp Google started rolling out its April 2025 security patch for Pixels.
Android Auto might let you navigate the road with smart glasses
Truly Sci-fi Recent Android Auto code may have alluded to smart glasses integration.
