The End Of the Happy Days. Google, from leader to follower.

Google I/O 2023. A point of view by Space and Lemon Innovations founder, Laurent Burdin

The end of the happy days, this is my conclusion after the pale and defensive 2 hours of Google presenting its answer to OpenAI at Google I/O on May 10th, 2023.

In (+) and (-). Positive, negative.

(-) Very defensive.

Google is always reminding us that they are behind the progress of AI, and they are — they invented the T of ChatGPT. However, they presented a copy of OpenAI ChatGPT in Search and of Microsoft Copilot for Google Workspace.

(-) A GPT copy, not very convincing.

Especially in Search. Google is struggling between doing real generative AI and preserving the Ad Word business. And it shows

(-) Just hints and defensive.

Announcement of a new bid model Gemini (vs. GPT) and of an XR glass project with Samsung Electronics (vs. Apple). “We are at it…”. Follower √

(-) Acknowledgment of the generative AI wave

“Inflection moment of AI”, this is how they see it. Under pressure, they launch a series of AI services. A new version of the large language model PaLM and an API for that on Vertex/Google Cloud. Again, a copy of OpenAI API on Microsoft Azure.

(+) Tensions and responsibility.

A sincere and good approach of what AI will provoke and how to verify truth and copyrights.

(+) (+) Hardware

Was the best part with a Pixel tablet with a speaker dock. And a formidable foldable phone. Google great at hardware, slow on core business.

Google is today a follower where they historically are a leader. Reflected by the pale keynote of Mr Pichai, a CEO that had not had a good happy long night for a while and it showed.

The end of the happy days.

I never liked monopolies. One of them is crumbling? What’s your take-out?