Google

Google LLC is an American multinational corporation and technology company focusing on online advertising, search engine technology, cloud computing, computer software, quantum computing, e-commerce, consumer electronics, and artificial intelligence (AI). It has been referred to as "the most powerful company in the world" and is one of the world's most valuable brands due to its market dominance, data collection, and technological advantages in the field of AI. Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., is one of the five Big Tech companies, alongside Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft.

Some of the key events about Google

1998
Google was founded as a search engine company in a garage in Menlo Park, California
2000
Google AdWords was launched, revolutionizing online advertising
2004
Gmail was introduced, offering 1GB of free storage, far exceeding competitors at the time
2004
Google's Gmail service raised privacy concerns due to its email scanning practices for targeted advertising
2005
Google Maps was released, providing free, detailed mapping and navigation services
2006
YouTube was acquired, establishing Google's dominance in online video sharing
2006
Google censored search results in China to comply with government regulations, sparking controversy
2008
The first Android-powered smartphone was released, marking Google's entry into mobile operating systems
2010
Google Fiber was announced, aiming to provide high-speed internet access to various cities
2010
Google's Street View cars were found to have collected personal data from unsecured Wi-Fi networks
2011
The company paid $500 million to settle allegations of illegal advertising of Canadian pharmaceuticals in the US
2012
Google consolidated its privacy policies across services, raising concerns about user data integration
2013
Project Loon was unveiled, an initiative to provide internet access to rural and remote areas using high-altitude balloons
2013
The company faced criticism for its involvement in the PRISM surveillance program revealed by Edward Snowden
2015
Alphabet Inc. was created as Google's parent company, restructuring the organization
2016
Google's AlphaGo AI defeated a world champion Go player, marking a significant milestone in artificial intelligence
2017
Google was fined €2.4 billion by the European Commission for antitrust violations related to its shopping comparison service
2018
The company faced internal and external backlash over its involvement in Project Maven, a US military AI project
2019
Google was fined €1.5 billion by the EU for antitrust violations in online advertising
2020
The US Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google for monopolistic practices in search and advertising

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.