Introduction to Google’s Latest Investments
Google is investing another €5 billion in Belgium over the next two years to boost its cloud and AI infrastructure. That effort includes expanding its data centre locations in Saint-Ghislain and creating 300 new full-time jobs. At the same time, it’s inked deals with Eneco, Luminus, and Renner to help develop onshore wind farms and support the power grid with clean energy.
Investing in People and Technology
That investment isn’t just about hardware. Google says it will also fund free AI training for low-skilled workers, through nonprofit partners, so Belgians can build new skills for an AI-driven economy.
Google’s Fight Against Bundling Restrictions
Alphabet Inc’s Google is trying to keep the right to bundle its popular apps like Maps and YouTube with its AI service Gemini, a lawyer for the company told a US federal judge on October 8. This challenge comes in response to a Justice Department proposal that would block such bundling. “There’s no notion that Google has to date gained monopoly or market power in the artificial intelligence market,” said Google lawyer John Schmidtlein to Judge Amit Mehta. He added, “there’s been no finding that Maps is a monopoly product or that YouTube is a monopoly product.”
The Justice Department’s Proposal
Judge Mehta, who has already ruled that Google monopolised search and search advertising, is working on a remedy to address the company’s conduct. Last month, he decided Google can no longer pay firms exclusively to use its Search, Chrome, or Play Store, though he did not ban all payments outright. His order merged parts of Google’s and the Justice Department’s ideas, triggering Wednesday’s session where both sides made their final push.
Google’s Dominance in the Market
Google’s YouTube is enormously influential: Bloomberg reports it’s now larger than all Disney’s TV networks and streaming services combined, based on audience and ad revenue. Users watch over 1 billion hours of content daily on YouTube. Meanwhile, Google Maps dominates navigation and mapping. It passed 2 billion users globally in the past year, far ahead of Apple Maps’ “hundreds of millions” users as of 2020. More than 5 million apps and sites also use Google Maps to power location-based features.
Partnership with LA28
In a separate move, Google will be the official cloud provider for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games, joining LA28 as a founding partner. The company’s cloud systems and AI tools, including Gemini and an “AI Mode” in Search, will help fans find information and support event operations across NBCUniversal’s broadcasts. Casey Wasserman, chair and president of LA28, said the deal aims to create “a technologically advanced, engaging and digitally accessible Games.” Google VP Marvin Chow added that the partnership would make the Games more personalised for spectators.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Google is making significant investments in its cloud and AI infrastructure, while also fighting against restrictions on bundling its popular apps. The company’s dominance in the market is evident, with YouTube and Google Maps being two of its most influential products. Google’s partnership with LA28 is also a significant move, showcasing its commitment to providing innovative solutions for large-scale events.
FAQs
- Q: How much is Google investing in Belgium?
A: Google is investing another €5 billion in Belgium over the next two years. - Q: What is Google’s AI service called?
A: Google’s AI service is called Gemini. - Q: How many users does Google Maps have?
A: Google Maps has over 2 billion users globally. - Q: What is the partnership between Google and LA28?
A: Google will be the official cloud provider for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games, joining LA28 as a founding partner.
