👉 Background: While Google is not the OG of search, it has most certainly made it their own over the past 20 years. Not only does Google process over 8.5 billion searches per DAY, but the brand has become its very own verb for the word search.

👉 What happened: Things had been pretty cushy for Google for a little while... But after the  release of TikTok's search algorithm and ChatGPT, Google is starting to look over its shoulder. It has now released a number of new features to its search engine:

• When you search for hotels and restaurants, you’ll get an Instagram-esque stories and reviews
• A new price guarantee badge that guarantees that flights aren’t getting cheaper

👉 What else: All of these are part of Google’s plan to remain indispensable in the face of its first real competitors in years.

What's the key learning?

💡Google Search is Google’s cash cow - more than half of Google’s $280 billion USD annual revenue came from search. So clearly, this revenue stream must be protected at ALL COSTS.

💡But here’s the thing: 40% of Gen Zers prefer searching on TikTok or Instagram when doing everyday things like looking for a lunch spot. So Google is trying to put out fires left, right and centre...

💡Over the past 12 months, Google has parked most of its  “moonshot' projects. We’re talking WiFi balloons and glucose-measuring contact lenses as it works through the new competition.

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