Happy Birthday, Google! 3 ways that Google led innovation outside of its search engine
On September 27, 2021, Google celebrated its 23rd birthday. Of course, we know and love Google for the minimal and easy to use search engine that has become ubiquitous as a verb for surfing the web, but what else has Google done? Here are 5 ways that Google has shaped the tech industry and our culture as we know it.
Monetization of Ads
Google wasn’t always the profitable powerhouse that it is today. It wasn’t until Google Adwords was born that Google turned a monumental profit. If you’re not familiar, Adwords is advertisements for users based on relevant keywords pertaining to that user and/or their search. Because Google’s algorithm focuses so well on tailoring these ads to their users, there are more clicks per ad, equating to more monetary compensation for Google. Their method of tailoring ads has also seeped into their popular video sharing platform, YouTube. Not only does Google profit from these ads, but they also pass these profits onto YouTube creators. This has turned a choice few YouTube creators into multi-millionaires.
Company Culture
Ping pong tables. Bean bags. Unlimited vacation. Google basically invented the “laid back and relaxed tech job” culture stereotype and many companies have followed suit. Google prides itself on treating their employees as people, leaders, and ‘owners,’ not just another cog in their multi-billion-dollar machine. From their ‘Googler to Googler’ program that allows workmates to learn various hard and soft skills from each other to ‘micro-kitchens’ that allow for more interaction between coworkers during lunchtime, Google wants to create a community amongst peers. These ideas and policies have shaped the way businesses see and interact with the people who keep them going on a worldwide scale. It’s gone from an exciting perk to an expectation by job seekers to have a fun, collaborative environment to work in.
Tech Gadgets
One of Google’s most popular lines of tech hardware is the Android phone. Though not as prevalent as Apple’s iPhone, its presence is still inescapable. It features Google Maps, which intelligently works its way into every Google search result for a business or location, and Google Assistant, which is also used in Google Nest. Google Assistant is an artificially intelligent virtual assistant that is found in all of Google’s smart home devices called Google Nest (formerly Google Home). It seamlessly integrates your home and the internet by using voice activated commands that allow users to lock doors, find recipes, switch lights, and more!
Over the course of over two decades, Google has solidified itself as an innovator from its physical and digital products to their employees. The company continues to pave the way for other technologists and improve upon existing inventions. With new twists to the market year after year, it’s no wonder that they don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
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