Google Chases Microsoft, Amazon Cloud Market Share With AI Tools
OpenAI, the ChatGPT creator it has backed with billions of dollars. Both companies already sell access to the latest AI technology behind the popular ChatGPT bot, but Google’s launch on Tuesday puts it ahead of Microsoft in making AI-powered office software easily available for all customers. Google also used the event to showcase customer uses of its technology, including a planned GE Appliances app that uses Google’s AI models to create recipes based on the food in a customer’s fridge.
The efforts are Google’s latest attempt to spark growth in the cloud business, an important part of CEO Sundar Pichai’s attempts to reduce dependence on its cash-cow search engine. Recent advances in AI, and the computing resources they require, have added extra urgency to turn the technology into profitable products. Google’s infrastructure and software offerings produce $32 billion in annual sales, about 10% of total revenue at parent company Alphabet.
Its cloud unit turned a quarterly operating profit for the first time this year.That still leaves Google firmly in third place in the cloud behind Amazon and Microsoft. Kurian has likened generative AI to the invention of cloud computing decades ago, a development that allowed files to be stored on remote servers rather than local devices and accessed through the internet. Google will make widely available its current large PaLM 2 model, which powers many of the company’s generative-AI features.
It was previously only available for handpicked customers. The company also will make available AI technology developed by Facebook-owner Meta Platforms and the startup Anthropic, in which it is an investor. The company also announced Tuesday the general availability of a suite of AI-powered
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