Google celebrates silver jubilee, marking 25 years of curiosity

Google turned 25 on Wednesday, marking its silver jubilee year with a special doodle showing the evolution of its logo over the years.

Founded on 27 September 1998 by Sergey Brin and Larry Page, then doctoral students at Stanford University, the company has come a long way.

Once a simple search engine, Google has branched out into numerous domains including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and hardware, while also changing the way the world wide web is used.

It owns an array of products and services that are integral to people’s daily lives—Google Maps, Google Drive, and the Android operating system, among others.

Its impact is felt in everything from how people navigate cities to how they store and access information.

“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,” the technology firm said in a blog post.

“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 added in the post.

May 2011 was a significant milestone for Google, as the company saw its monthly unique visitors exceed one billion. The achievement signaled Google’s wide-reaching influence and the role it plays in shaping the online experience for users worldwide.

Despite facing stiff competition from other tech giants such as Apple and Amazon, Google has held its own, primarily due to the dominance of its search engine.

“It’s a huge privilege to reach this milestone, made possible by the people who use our products and challenge us to keep innovating, the hundreds of thousands of Googlers past and present who have given their talents to building those products, and our partners who believe in our mission as much as we do,” Google and Alphabet chief executive officer Sundar Pichai said in a blog earlier this month.

Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has consistently posted strong financial performances, thanks in large part to its advertising revenue. However, its journey has not been without challenges. The company has been in the spotlight for various controversies, including concerns about user privacy, market monopolies, and ethical considerations around its technology.

Over the years, Google has also been a significant player in social impact initiatives. Through Google.org, it has donated millions of dollars to causes ranging from educational equity to crisis relief. The company’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its pledge to be carbon-free by 2028.

Today, Google is more than just a company; it’s a verb, a part of everyday vocabulary, and a cornerstone of the modern digital age.

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, Google shows no signs of slowing down. With advancements in machine learning, cloud services, and quantum computing on the horizon, the future seems promising.

The company has already teased projects aimed at revolutionizing healthcare and urban living, and as it looks forward to the next 25 years, Google aims to continue shaping people’s digital lives.

“Our search for answers will drive extraordinary technology progress over the next 25 years,” Google quoted Pichai in its note, while adding, “We’re excited to build the future alongside you.”