Should we be SCARED of Google?

What is Google? Let me rephrase a dialog from matrix:

“Google is everywhere. It is all around us. Its there when you search, stream youtube, when you work (Google Docs).. when u travel (Google Maps).. or when you open up chrome or switch on Android. Well it is the digital life pulled over your eyes” 😉

Can we live without it? Of course yes but I hardly think anyone would be willing to go back to those times. Today their services are so perfect & much needed. They are showing no signs of stopping and don’t fail to impress us with new innovations. But how can something built by humans be so perfect. hmm.. 

Lets look at these 3 offerings from Google that leaves you wondering – 

1. Google+ 

Have you noticed it is showing up everywhere these days, especially in your gmail conversations? You might also be aware of their recent move mandating users to sign up with G+ for commenting on Youtube and expect more such moves. All this with just one intention, getting everyone to sign up for G+

All good, but G+ is tightly integrated with all their services (or will be soon) – Search, Maps, Gmail, Youtube, Docs, & so on.. So it knows everything of what you do, where all you go, whom you talk to, along with WHO you are.

Again all good. But they can sell all this to advertisers along with your face & name. How cool is that! *evil laugh*

2. $179 premium Moto G

One phone to rule them all. The latest announcement from Motorola. An android phone with premium features at $179 intended for the millions & millions world wide. Read more..

“The 4.5-inch display, with 720p, 329 PPI resolution is the “hero feature” of the phone, and it outperforms the iPhone 5s according to Motorola. It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 1.2 GHz processor with 1GB of RAM, and offers “all-day” battery life. Motorola is keeping customization key to the product, too, with custom shells like its more expensive predecessor, and there are new flip shells that protect the screen and back.”

Now Google will be in every pocket (or most of the Humanity).. 

3. Google search auto-complete (or secret whispering)

 

The one feature I love the most of Google Search. Auto-complete.. the very thing which automatically completes the phrase you are about to search. But what if this influences the very thing you are about to search? And does it influence your thinking or decision making? Could this mean Google is controlling you? Think again! (read more..)

 

How would you know that? Maybe you are already being.. .. .. did I say something?

 

 

What if maybe in future, Google knowing everything about you, what you want & what you are about to do next influence you such that you click the very ad it intended for you & made you buy something???

 

Goosebumps!

 

So, should we be afraid? Nah.. not really, I was sort of kidding.

 

Google is no matrix, it is a bunch of awesome people committed to give their best. Google makes money via ads & selling data is part of their business model (everything cannot be free). Infact Google is the one company every startup aspires to be, especially what we used to look up to & still do. Everyday we work hard to make our product as awesome as theirs.

 

And they are not just stopping at digital services, but also taking up challenging projects in healthcare, providing cheap bandwidth in rural areas (Balloon project), driverless cars, Glass.. & much more. Wish them more success & want to see all this come to fruition.

 

I love their products, and I will continue to use their services for a long time, I dont see any alternative when I search.. Oh wait.. . 😉

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I am Jitin Pillai, co-founder @ AirStream. You can download our app on Google Play & drop a feedback 🙂

App Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nityaalabs.airstream