Big stories, in-depth interviews, and product launches from the internet giant.

Insights: Google

[MUSIC PLAYING] KRISTEN BELLSTROM: So Beth, let's talk a little bit about what's happening at Google right now. BETH KOWITT: So Google is going through a really interesting cultural moment. There is an unprecedented level of workplace activism happening there. So you're seeing employees who are pretty senior, been there for a really long time are starting to question management's business decisions in a really public way. So Google's always had that culture of debate, but it's been internal. And now, I think it's really bursting out into the public. This may have been the first time that the public was seeing this, but for months, there had been lots of different issues brewing inside the company. So you had the sexual harassment pay out, $90 million to Andy Rubin. That was the spark for the walkout. You also had these business decisions that Google had made kind of in secret. KRISTEN BELLSTROM: Two of the projects that come up again and again in this story are Project Maven and Dragonfly. Can you walk us through what both of those are? BETH KOWITT: Sure. So Dragonfly is a search engine project that Google was working on for China. And it was basically, censored search. And Google had pulled out of China in 2010, its search engine, basically for human rights reasons. And so when employees found out that the company was working on a censored search engine again for China, I think that that was one of the reasons that they were particularly upset. Project Maven is a contract with the Pentagon, by which the Pentagon was using Google's AI to look at drone footage and scan drone footage. And employees were really concerned that that technology, that Google technology could be used down the chain to make drone strikes more lethal. So again, really did not want Google engaged in any sort of warfare activity. Employees were saying this is not OK and were doing it very vocally. And so management, I think, is really trying to figure out, how can we keep the culture we've had of debate alive as we are now 100,000 employee company? What does this say about Silicon Valley and tech? And also, what does it say about the changing relationship between workers and their employers? Silicon Valley is always on the edge. And I think because we're seeing this here first, we're going to see it elsewhere, too. 

Insights: A Look At The Activism, Walkouts, and other Internal Unrest Roiling Google

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A Look At Internal Unrest Roiling Google

Employees are pushing back against the company's handling of sexual harassment claims and the secretive Dragonfly and Project Maven. (May 2019)

So let's talk a little bit about what's happening at Google right now. So Google is going through a really interesting cultural moment. There is an unprecedented level of workplace activism happening there. So you're seeing employees who are pretty senior, been there for a really long time, are starting to question management business decisions in a really public way. Google's always had that culture of debate, but it's kind of been internal, and now I think it's really bursting out into the public. This may have been the first time that that the public was seeing this, but for months there had been lots of different issues brewing inside the company. So, you know, you had this sexual harassment payout $90 million any Reuben. That was sort of the spark for the walkout. You'd also have these business decisions that Google had made kind of a secret. Two of the projects that come up began again and again in the story. Our project maven and dragon fly. Can you walk us through what both of those are sure? So Dragon Fly is a search engine, um, project that Google was working on for China and it was basically censored search and Google had pulled out of China in 2010 its search engine basically for human rights reasons on DSO. When employees found out that the company was working on a sensor to search engine again for China, I think that that was one of the reasons that they were particularly upset. Project Maven is a contract with the Pentagon by which the Pentagon was using Google's A. I Look a drone footage, um, scan drones. That footage And employees were really concerned that that would that that technology that Google technology could be used down the chain thio make drone strikes more lethal. Um so again, really did not want Google engaged in any sort of warfare activity. Employees were saying, This is not okay on we're doing it very vocally. Um, and so management, I think, is really trying to figure out how can we keep the culture? We've had to be alive as we are now. 100,000 employees company. What does this say about Silicon Valley and tech? And also, what does it say about the changing relationship between workers and their employers? Silicon Valley is always on the edge, and I think because we're seeing this here first, we're gonna see it elsewhere, too.

Insights: Exploring Google's Move Into Personal Banking

Exploring Google's Move Into Personal Banking

Accessible through the Google Pay app. (November 2019)

[MUSIC PLAYING] JESSICA YU: We launch about 500 thumb doodles a year. But every market gets different doodles, according to what's appropriate. We have a group of staff artists at Google that come from various countries. Sometimes, we'll use them to make doodles, especially the more complicated ones that will involve engineers and multiple rounds of iteration. But then, other times, we find it's much more valuable to engage a local artist. And they occasionally have a great connection to the actual subject that we're honoring. NATE SWINEHART: It's a huge responsibility representing these topics. You want to do these amazing people justice. Research is a huge part of the job that's very important. The number of people that are going to see the work is unfathomably high. And so just keeping in mind being respectful of the topics is definitely the biggest challenge. JESSICA YU: The doodles have changed a lot, not surprisingly because of advances in technology. So initially, when the doodles were on the home page, they were just a static image. And that was all the bandwidth that people could afford. And then, eventually, you have things that you could watch-- so an animated GIF-- which is great, because if you're honoring a dancer or a choreographer, what better way to do that than to be able to watch the moves? NATE SWINEHART: I did a doodle for Frankie Manning, who is the creator of the Lindy Hop. For that project in particular, I learned to do the Lindy Hop, which I didn't know how to do at all. It was pretty interesting. And I don't know if I'm the best Lindy hopper, but it was a great experience. And you do things on this team that you would never expect. [LAUGHS] JESSICA YU: AI is relatively new technology. Obviously, Bach is somebody who we had on our radar and somebody we would want to honor at some point. And how do we do him justice? We use 306 different pieces of music to train the magical musical box to be able to make your one-note melody into a four-part harmony. And then it comes out, and you can play it. But if you don't like it, you can press the button again. And it will try again and give you something, hopefully, that you like better. NATE SWINEHART: Last year, I was able to work on our Halloween doodle. It was the first ever multiplayer doodle we've done. Making a multiplayer game for the front page of the internet is an insane thing to try and do. [LAUGHS] We had to really craft an experience that was not going to exclude anyone, and it was going to be enjoyable, no matter the level of comfort with games, really celebrating and connecting people. It was a lofty goal, and I learned so much about game design in doing that. And it was great. JESSICA YU: For Mother's Day, we wanted to do something really special this year and capture a lot of those moments that parenthood means-- eating, and protecting, and just the comical moments that happen when you're a parent. Traditionally, with animated GIFs, they're several megabytes. And you might find in your experience using animated GIFs that they're slow to load, especially if you're in a low bandwidth situation. And so we wanted to use technology to solve that problem and be able to deliver it to people worldwide in a much smaller and compact format. There is limitless possibilities out there-- especially in a company like Google where there's so many teams working on all sorts of things across so many different products-- of what we could do next. 

Insights: All The Work That Goes Into Making Google Doodles

All The Work That Goes Into Making Google Doodles

A lot of research goes into one doodle. (May 2019)

way. Launch about 500 some dude over a year, but every market gets different doodles according to what appropriate. We have a group of artists at Google that come from various countries. Sometimes we'll use them to make doodles, especially the more complicated ones that will involve engineers on multiple rounds of federation. But then, other times we find it much more valuable. Thio engage a local artists, and they occasionally have a great connection to the actual subject that we're honoring. It's a huge responsibility, representing the topics you want to do these amazing people. Justice research is a huge part of the job. That's very important. The number of people that are going to see the work is unfathomably high. And so you just keeping in mind. Being respectful of the topic is definitely the biggest challenge. The deal has changed a lot, uh, not surprisingly, because of advances in technology. So initially, when the doodles were on the home page, they were just a static image on, and that was all the bandwidth that people could afford. And then eventually you have things that you could watch. So an animated GIF, which is great, because if you're honoring a dancing A choreographer? What better way to do that than to be able to watch the movie? I did a doodle for Frankie Manning, who is the creator of the Lindy Hop for that project in particular, I learned to do the Lindy Hop, which I didn't know how to do at all. Uh, it was pretty interesting. And I don't know if I'm the best windy offer, but it was a great experience. You do things on this team that you would never expect has a relatively new technology, obviously, Bacchus. Somebody who we had on our radar, somebody wanna honor at some point on, How do we do him justice? We use 306 different pieces of music to train the magical musical box to be able to make your one note melody into a four part harmony, and then it comes out and you can play it. If you don't like it, you can press the button again, and it will try again and give you something. Hopefully that you like better last year is able to work on our Halloween doodle. It was the first ever multi player doodle we've done making a multiplayer game for the front page of the Internet is an insane thing to try. And do We have the really Crafton experience that was not going to exclude anyone, and it was going to be enjoyable, No matter the level of comfort with games really celebrating, connecting people was a lofty goal, and I learned so much about Game designed in doing that. And it was great for Mother's Day. We wanted to do something really special this year and capture a lot of those moments. But parenthood means, you know, leading and protecting and just comical moments that happen when you're a parent traditionally with animated GIFs, they're several megabytes, and you might find in your experience using animated GIF that they're a load a load, Um, especially if you're in a low band with situation. And so we wanted to use technology, resolve that problem and be able to deliver it to people worldwide in a much smaller and compact women. There is limitless possibilities out there, especially at a company like Google, where there's so many teams working on all sorts of things across so many different products of what we could do next

[MUSIC PLAYING] RISHI CHANDRA: Today we're introducing the next generation, Nest Mini. It's even more capable with the same affordable price point and the same iconic design. So let's start with the design. Colors really help Mini blend naturally into your home. And you now have a new color option called Sky. And as Ivy mentioned, all of our fabric is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Now, we also heard from you, you want a little more flexibility of where to place Mini. So we added a simple wall mount. It really looks great anywhere in your home. SABRINA ELLIS: Pixel 4 introduces entirely new helpful experiences with more natural interactions. It's completely redesigned with a new look, a new, color and a beautiful new finish. Pixel 4 is the first smartphone with a radar sensor. It powers the new Motion Sense capabilities for more human interactions with your phone. For instance, Pixel 4 has the fastest secure face unlock on a smartphone because the process starts before you've even picked up your phone. Motion Sense prepares the camera when you reach for your Pixel 4, so you don't need to tap the screen. It's so much faster and smoother. RICK OSTERLOH: With Pixel Buds, help is there when you want it, and the experience just comes to you, even when your phone's not in your hand. For instance, you can get hands-free access to the assistant. So instead of turning to your phone for quick tasks, you can just say, hey, Google, and ask the assistant for whatever you need-- resume your podcast, send a quick text, get directions, or even understand another language with Google Translate. Everything about Pixelbook Go is designed to address real user needs for an affordable price. You can preorder it now in just black with Not Pink coming soon. 

Insights: See Google's Fall 2019 Product Debuts 

There's products from earbuds to tablets.

See Google's Fall 2019 Product Debuts 

They include a new Nest mini, Pixel 4 Phone, Wireless Pixel Earbuds and Pixelbook Go. (October & November 2019

Today we're introducing the next generation nest Minnie. It's even more capable with same affordable price point in the same iconic design. So start with the design colors really helped. Many blend naturally into your home, and you now have a new color option called Sky. And as Ivy mentioned, all of our fabric is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Now we also heard from you. You want a lot more flexibility of where to place many, so we added a simple amount. It really looks great anywhere in your home. Pixel four introduces entirely new, helpful experiences with more natural interaction. It's a completely redesigned with a new luck, a new color and a beautiful new finish. Pixel four is the first smartphone with a radar sensor. It powers the new motion sensor capabilities for more human interactions with your phone. For instance, 64 has the fastest secure face on lock on a smartphone because the process starts before you've even picked up your phone motions, prepares the camera when you reach for your picks before so you don't need to tap the screen. It's so much faster and smoother with pixel bud. Help is there when you want it, and the experience just comes to you. Even when your phone's not in your hands, for instance, you can get hands free access to the assistant. So instead of turning to your phone for quick task, you could just say, Hey, Google and ask the assistant for whatever you need. Resume your podcast quick tax, get directions or even understand another language with Google. Translate everything about pixel book Go is designed to address really user needs for an affordable price. You can preorder it now and just black with not pink coming soon.

[MUSIC PLAYING] SPEAKER: Welcome to Stadia. SPEAKER 2: Now, let me show you how we have brought this vision to life. Imagine you're watching games on YouTube and you discover the latest Assassin's Creed Odyssey trailer on Ubisoft's official channels on YouTube. You will notice the Play Now button. By simply clicking on that button, the player is brought directly into the game in a browser in as quick as five seconds. With no download-- [APPLAUSE] With no download, no patch, no update, and no install. Stadia offers instant access to play. A key benefit of our platform is that a single creative vision and a single code base can now be enjoyed instantly across any screen. At launch, we'll support being able to play games across desktops, laptops, TV, tablets, and phones. [MUSIC PLAYING]

Insights: Google Introduces Its Video Game Streaming Service

They hope Stadia will disrupt the gaming industry.

Google Introduces Its Video Game Streaming Service

They hope Stadia will disrupt the gaming industry. (March 2019)

welcome to stadia. Now let me show you how we have brought this vision to life. Imagine you're watching games on YouTube and you discover the latest assassin's creed Odyssey trailer on Ubisoft official Channel on YouTube. You will notice the play now by simply clicking on that button the players brought directly into the game in a browser in a quick five seconds, with no downloads with no downloads, no patch. No update on knowing store stadia offers instant access to play. A key benefit of our platform is that a single creative vision on a single code base can now be enjoyed instantly across any screen. At launch will support being able to play games across desktops, laptops, TV tablets on phone.

Insights: Google

Insights: A Look At The Activism, Walkouts, and other Internal Unrest Roiling Google

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Employees are pushing back against the company's handling of sexual harassment claims and the secretive Dragonfly and Project Maven. (May 2019)

Videos (5 videos)

Insights: A Look At The Activism, Walkouts, and other Internal Unrest Roiling Google

Insights: Exploring Google's Move Into Personal Banking

Insights: All The Work That Goes Into Making Google Doodles

Insights: See Google's Fall 2019 Product Debuts

Insights: Google Introduces Its Video Game Streaming Service