The most powerful chatbot may not be the most successful.
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Google is seen as a major force in the market. generative-AI So it’s easy to forget that in the early days following ChatGPT’s launch, the search giant was caught flat-footed. The company rushed to overtake OpenAI, and early models made fundamental errors and were widely distributed.
But now that the company is at the cutting edge of technology, its flagship Gemini AI model is being integrated into seven different Google products, with at least 2 billion users. That’s not because Gemini is better than ChatGPT, Claude, or any other competitor. Not a lot, but this is because Google already has an extensive ecosystem and user base.
That ecosystem’s advantage, perhaps even more so than the abilities of its research teams, is what makes Google, Apple, Meta, and other corporate giants so formidable in the AI wars. Seamlessly integrate personal and enterprise software, devices, and social media platforms, and “this is why the latest proposal from the Department of Justice is so important,” I wrote Tuesday. “The government wants to break Google’s monopoly over the search market, but the proposed solutions might actually be more helpful in shaping the future of AI.” Exit the company’s search engine. But it might make them wonder about Gemini a second time. The DOJ’s requests, I write, may fall under the auspices of Search, but they “are a shock to Google’s vast empire.”
The AI war isn’t just about AI.
By Matteo Wong
For nearly two years, the world’s largest tech companies have been at war with generative AI. Meta may be best known for social media, Google for search, and Amazon for online shopping. But since the launch of ChatGPT, they have invested heavily in trying to dominate in this new era. Along with startups like OpenAI, Anthropic and Perplexity, spending on data centers and chatbots is on track to eclipse the cost of sending the first astronauts to the moon.
to succeed These companies will need to do more than create the “smartest” software: they need people to use and return to their products. Everyone wants to be a Facebooker, and no one wants to be a Friendster. That’s why the best strategy in technology remains the same. That is, create an ecosystem that users can’t help but live in. Billions of people use Google Search every day, so Google is building an innovative AI product called AI Overview directly into results pages. Giving you an immediate advantage over your competitors.
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What to read next
- The case against closing Chrome– “People who like and are familiar with Google will probably choose Google again,” Ian Bogost wrote about the DOJ’s decision.
- The iPhone is now an AI Trojan horse.– “With the addition of iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac and AirPods, billions of company-owned devices are used by people around the world. It is the perfect delivery vehicle for AI,” Charlie Warzel and I wrote in June.
P.S.
Donald Trump is considering naming it “AI czar” like that at AxiosAnd Elon Musk will be heavily involved in the selection. Musk has long feuded with executives at other leading AI companies, including Sam Altman and, earlier this year, my colleague Ross Andersen. Wrote a clever summary of the feud: “Musk, who can’t seem to stand the idea that there could be tech drama, Somewhere unrelated to him, relentlessly trolling OpenAI on X.”
— Matteo
