Google's Summer Of Reckoning
BW Businessworld|September 07, 2024
What began as a routine quarterly earnings report quickly turned into a landslide of reversals that have shaken the company's foundation and cast doubt on its future dominance in the digital world
Shubhranshu Singh
Google's Summer Of Reckoning

FRANCIS BACON wrote in the sixteenth century, "Knowledge itself is power". But in the Internet era, sourcing and sorting knowledge is more powerful. Information is abundant and accessible, and making sense of it is the challenge.

For decades, the world had gone to one well to quench its thirst for pre-sorted knowledge. That well was Google. It has been a harsh summer for Google. What began as a routine quarterly earnings report quickly turned into a landslide of reversals that have shaken the company's foundation and cast doubt on its future dominance in the digital world.

From underwhelming financial results to a damning antitrust ruling, Google is grappling with challenges that could fundamentally alter its business model and its future.

In July, Alphabet, Google's parent company, saw its shares dip following secondquarter earnings that failed to meet investors' expectations. While this might have been shrugged off as a minor setback, it was merely the beginning of a series of events that would place Google under intense scrutiny.

Shortly afterwards, the Financial Times reported that Google had struck a secret deal with Meta to target advertisements at teenagers. This agreement appeared to circumvent Google's own rules regarding the treatment of minors online, raising ethical concerns and further damaging the company's reputation.

The Instagram campaign deliberately targeted a group of users labelled as 'unknown'in its advertising system, which Google knew skewed towards under-18s, the report said. It further suggests that steps were taken to ensure the true intent of the campaign was disguised.

Denne historien er fra September 07, 2024-utgaven av BW Businessworld.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra September 07, 2024-utgaven av BW Businessworld.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA BW BUSINESSWORLDSe alt
MEMORIES & IMPRESSIONS
BW Businessworld

MEMORIES & IMPRESSIONS

Ratan Tata was an exceptional human being. He was a visionary leader, esteemed industrialist, and a humanitarian, who left an indelible mark on India and the world.

time-read
3 mins  |
October 19, 2024
The Robotaxi Market
BW Businessworld

The Robotaxi Market

The robotaxi market is shaping up to be a high-stakes battleground as tech giants and automakers race to transform urban mobility.

time-read
1 min  |
October 19, 2024
And the Nobel Prize Goes to AI
BW Businessworld

And the Nobel Prize Goes to AI

The recent Nobel Prize T awards to AI pioneers affiliated with Google have sparked a broader conversation about Big Tech's influence on research and the limitations of traditional prize categories.

time-read
1 min  |
October 19, 2024
Ola Electrified
BW Businessworld

Ola Electrified

Once considered a trailblazer in India’s electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, Bhavish Aggarwal’s Ola Electric now faces a major accountability crisis.

time-read
1 min  |
October 19, 2024
Sharp Slide in Industrial Output on Eve of Deepavali
BW Businessworld

Sharp Slide in Industrial Output on Eve of Deepavali

India’s index of industrial production (IIP) saw a sharp reversal in August, contracting by 0.1 per cent, in stark contrast to the 4.7 per cent growth in July, mostly because of significant contractions in mining and electricity generation.

time-read
1 min  |
October 19, 2024
Heralding the Solar Era with Sustainable Electrification
BW Businessworld

Heralding the Solar Era with Sustainable Electrification

RAJEEV KASHYAP on the economics of solar power, the hurdles in scaling it, and much more

time-read
2 mins  |
October 19, 2024
A WELL-GREASED MACHINE
BW Businessworld

A WELL-GREASED MACHINE

The OmniBook X14 laptop runs on first-generation Snapdragon X Elite, which bets big on Al-enabled productivity and battery life, but falls short when it comes to overall experience, says Deep Majumdar

time-read
4 mins  |
October 19, 2024
DO NOT LETA HEALTH CRISIS RUIN YOUR FINANCIAL HEALTH
BW Businessworld

DO NOT LETA HEALTH CRISIS RUIN YOUR FINANCIAL HEALTH

For a family of four living in a metro, it is recommended to opt for a family floater health insurance plan with a sum insured of at least Rs 15-20 lakh

time-read
7 mins  |
October 19, 2024
Disruption Ahead: Beyond Organisation Charts and Structures
BW Businessworld

Disruption Ahead: Beyond Organisation Charts and Structures

ALBERT EINSTEIN FAMOUSLY said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.

time-read
3 mins  |
October 19, 2024
Dr. Rahul Shivajirao Kadam: A Visionary Leader Blending Sustainability, Innovation, And Social Empowerment
BW Businessworld

Dr. Rahul Shivajirao Kadam: A Visionary Leader Blending Sustainability, Innovation, And Social Empowerment

We are on the stage of global warming, and these technologies not only help prevent further damage but also leave behind a better environment for future generations.

time-read
2 mins  |
October 19, 2024