Google is an American multinational technology company that has become synonymous with online search and information retrieval. Founded on September 4, 1998, by Larry Page and Sergey Brin while they were PhD students at Stanford University, Google has evolved into a global leader in various sectors, including online advertising, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and consumer electronics2.

Key Facts About Google

• Founding and Early Years: Google started as a research project in January 1996, initially named "BackRub." It was later renamed to Google, a misspelling of "googol," signifying the vast amount of information it aimed to organize2.
• Initial Funding: The company received its first funding of $100,000 from Andy Bechtolsheim in August 1998, which helped incorporate the company2.
• Growth and Expansion: Google went public in 2004 and has since expanded its services beyond search to include Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, Android, and more2.
• Parent Company: In 2015, Google was reorganized under Alphabet Inc., with Sundar Pichai becoming the CEO of Google and later of Alphabet as well2.

Products and Services

Google offers a wide range of products and services that cater to various needs:

• Search Engine: Google Search is the most widely used search engine globally, indexing billions of web pages2.
• Email and Productivity: Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides are popular tools for personal and professional use2.
• Navigation and Mapping: Google Maps and Google Earth provide detailed navigation and satellite imagery2.
• Video Sharing: YouTube is the largest online video platform2.
• Artificial Intelligence: Google Assistant, Gemini, and other AI tools are part of its AI offerings2.
• Consumer Electronics: Google develops smartphones (Pixel), smartwatches (Pixel Watch), and smart home devices (Nest)2.

Impact and Recognition

Google has become one of the world's most valuable brands, known for its innovative approach to technology and its mission to "organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful"2. The verb "google" has been added to dictionaries, symbolizing its impact on modern language2.