A detailed overview of the companies that Google controls, outlining the extent of its business empire
Google, the tech giant and largest subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., has made a significant impact in various industries through its acquisitions and investments. Here's a glimpse into some of the key companies under Google's umbrella and the role they play.
Google's acquisition of Waze in 2013 significantly impacted the navigation market. Waze, a community-driven navigation app, provides real-time traffic updates, road information, and gas prices. Integrating Waze into Google's suite of applications improved user experience for Google Maps users and gave Google a stronger foothold in mobile advertising through location-based ads.
In the realm of artificial intelligence (AI), DeepMind stands out as a significant player. DeepMind's main focus is creating general-purpose learning algorithms applicable across various domains. In 2016, DeepMind made history when its AI, AlphaGo, defeated world champion Go player Lee Sedol. Beyond AI development, DeepMind also contributes to advancing research in health and science fields.
Nest Labs, acquired by Google in 2014, is a pioneer in the field of "smart homes". Nest Labs' Smart Thermostat learns from user behaviour and adapts accordingly, while products like Nest Protect, a smoke detector, tells users where smoke is coming from and can be silenced from a phone. Nest Cam provides clear 1080p video streaming, two-way audio, and live alerts sent straight to a user's phone.
DoubleClick, an ad-serving service, enables businesses to effectively reach their target audience across multiple platforms. DoubleClick offers features such as ad delivery, data reporting, and remarketing capabilities. It provides tools for advertisers to create and manage their ads, and offers advanced tracking and data analysis capabilities.
Google's Android OS powers over 2 billion monthly active devices globally. Android Inc., purchased by Google in July 2005, led to the creation of the Android OS.
Google Cloud Platform (GCP) stands as a titan in the cloud computing arena. GCP offers diverse business-catering products and services such as Google App Engine, Google Compute Engine, Google Kubernetes Engine, BigQuery, and Google Functions. GCP's global network infrastructure ensures high availability and low latency for applications, making it a cost-effective solution compared to other major players.
Alphabet's subsidiaries include Waymo, Verily Life Sciences, DeepMind, Calico, Sidewalk Labs, and CapitalG. Waymo is dedicated to autonomous driving technology, Verily Life Sciences focuses on healthcare technologies, DeepMind is a leading name in artificial intelligence research, Calico focuses on biotechnology, and Sidewalk Labs aims to improve city living. CapitalG invests in growth-stage companies.
Acquisitions drive innovation at Google, ensuring competitive advantage and enabling market expansion. From navigation to AI, smart homes, advertising, and cloud computing, Google's acquisitions and subsidiaries span a wide range of industries, positioning the company as a dominant force in the tech world.
