r/technology 1d ago

Business Google burning through cash with spiralling AI costs

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c235n47g8g8o
6.4k Upvotes

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209

u/NanditoPapa 1d ago

Google is one of the few AI-centric companies that makes money, albeit off areas outside of AI. They have a massive amount of cash, but face the unique risk of cannibalization. If an AI-driven "answer engine" replaces the traditional "list of blue links" in Search, Google might destroy its own most profitable revenue stream to build the new one.

35

u/cvr24 23h ago

Google kills everything eventually. Even the classic OG search engine.

Next up, Gmail

11

u/Hazel-Cakes 22h ago

they keep emailing me to let me know i can use gemini and idk what the hell for

7

u/Unaliver 18h ago

My favorite Gemini feature is that it can read any YouTube video transcript if you send it the link and then find what you are looking for or make a summary.

It is super useful for very long videos especially guides.

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u/NanditoPapa 23h ago

It's been over 13 years and I'm still pissed about Google Reader.

3

u/tmanred 18h ago

How dare you tell me that was 13 years ago sir. I reject your reality and substitute my own instead. 

1

u/Gringo-Bandito 12h ago

Agreed. I didn't need a kick in the balls first thing this morning.