Google 25th birthday: Google is a multinational technology company known for its internet-related products and services. It was founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin while they were Ph.D. students at Stanford University. Google has grown to become one of the most prominent and influential tech companies globally. The term “Google” originally referred to the name of a popular internet search engine and the company that created it.
10 interesting and lesser-known facts about Google:
Google’s Origin in a Garage: Like many famous tech companies, Google started in a garage. Larry Page and Sergey Brin worked on their search engine project in a friend’s garage in Menlo Park, California.
The First Google Doodle: The first Google Doodle was created in 1998 when the founders attended the Burning Man festival. It was a simple stick figure logo behind the second “o” in “Google.”
“I’m Feeling Lucky”: The “I’m Feeling Lucky” button on Google’s homepage used to bypass the search results page and take users directly to the first search result. It cost Google millions in lost ad revenue, but they kept it anyway.
Google’s Founders Almost Sold: In the late 1990s, Larry Page and Sergey Brin considered selling Google to a company called Excite for just $1 million. Luckily for them, the deal fell through.
Goats for Lawn Mowing: Google has used goats to mow the lawns at its headquarters. It’s part of their eco-friendly approach to landscaping.
Google’s Search Index is Huge: As of my knowledge cutoff date in September 2021, Google had indexed over 130 trillion web pages. This vast index allows it to deliver relevant search results quickly.
No “Google” in China: In China, Google is not the dominant search engine. The Chinese government has blocked Google Search, and the most widely used search engine in China is Baidu.
Google’s Free Lunch: Google employees used to enjoy free meals at the company’s cafeteria. This led to the creation of the term “Google 15” or “Google 20,” referring to the weight gain some employees experienced due to the abundance of free food.
The First Google Storage: Google’s first storage space was built with LEGO bricks by Larry Page and Sergey Brin. It was used to store hard drives when they were building the search engine.
Googleplex Bicycle: At Google’s headquarters (known as the Googleplex), employees use bicycles to get around. The company provides colorful bikes for employees to travel between buildings on the vast campus.
Please note that some of these facts may have evolved or changed since my last knowledge update in September 2021. Google is a dynamic company known for its innovation and unique culture.
