Tech giant, Google is celebrating its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter-century of revolutionizing how people access and gather information.
Starting as a modest search engine designed to help users locate answers to complex questions in an era when information retrieval meant reaching out to knowledgeable acquaintances or relying on printed materials, Google has evolved into a tech giant.
At its core, Google’s success has been driven by users’ curiosity, as people have turned to the search engine to quench their thirst for knowledge, to seek answers to questions, and to navigate life’s complexities.
The CEO of Google, Sundar Pichai, acknowledged the collaborative effort that has shaped Google’s progress, giving credit to the company’s employees, partners, and above all, its users.
“It’s an enormous privilege to reach this milestone, and we haven’t done it alone. We may be a technology company, but Google is what it is today because of people- Our employees, our partners, and most importantly, all the people who use our products.
“So as we celebrate our 25th birthday today, we’re also celebrating 25 years of your curiosity. After all, your curiosity is what has fueled us — and our progress,” Pichai said, noting that the evolution of Google Images was driven by users’ desire to find specific pictures.
“Consider that in 2000 so many people rushed to Google seeking photos of Jennifer Lopez’s daring Grammy’s dress that it became the most popular search query. That search returned 10 blue links, but no green dress.
“So our engineers went to work, brainstorming new ways to index images alongside webpages and Google Images was born, enabling you to find that one photo you’re in search of faster than ever before.
“It’s a cycle that has repeated itself at Google time and time again over the last quarter century. Whether you want to learn how to knot a tie or plan where to tie the knot, stay healthy or stay informed — each chapter of our story has been co-authored by you,” he explained.
Pichai also highlighted the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drive progress and improve user experiences, asserting that the search for answers will propel significant technological advancements over the next 25 years.
“Our homepage doodle today honors the evolution of the Google logo, and if you search for (or hum) birthday-related queries, you might see a little surprise. But mostly, we want to say thanks,” he added.