Is Google Search On The Ropes as AI Poised to Take Over?
Google's New World - A Shift in the Search Engine Landscape
Google's head of Search, Prabhakar Raghavan, has acknowledged that the search engine world is not the same as it was 15-20 years ago. This shift indicates a new era for Google, which debuted its search engine around that time. Despite the changes, Raghavan emphasized that Google remains a trusted source for answers, with users turning to it for information regardless of the emergence of new gadgets or gizmos.
Google's Strategic Adjustments
In response to the evolving landscape, Raghavan announced that his team would have less time to complete some projects as part of a push to accelerate progress in key areas. Google is also planning to build teams closer to growing markets, with a primary focus on India and Brazil. Raghavan underscored the importance of Google's reputation amid these changes, especially in the face of competition from AI products like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude.
Merging AI Teams and Platforms
The recent meeting with the Search team follows a period of consolidation at Google. The company has been merging the teams behind its AI models in its Research and DeepMind divisions to accelerate the build-up of its AI capabilities. Additionally, Google announced the merging of its Android, Chrome, and hardware divisions under a new "Platform and Devices" team. This move aims to speed up both hardware and software development.
New Roles and Responsibilities
Google's Hardware SVP, Rick Osterloh, will lead the new "Platform and Devices" team, while Hiroshi Lockheimer will move to "some new projects" at Google. Lockheimer previously served as head of software platforms like Android and Chrome. These changes reflect Google's commitment to adapt and evolve in the face of new challenges and opportunities.
Google's Forward Momentum - Diversifying Revenue Streams and Embracing AI
Google's recent moves demonstrate that it is not complacent but is instead making significant changes in pursuit of big results. The rise of Artificial Intelligence poses a potential threat to Google's core business – Search and Ads. However, Google is diversifying its revenue streams, with ads accounting for 70% of its revenue in the past quarter, down from around 90% a few years ago. The merging of AI teams and the unification of Android, Chrome, and Hardware into a single team are expected to further aid this diversification.
