Google at 20

September 2018 marks 20 years since two Stanford Ph.D. students launched a new search engine with a bold mission to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. Though much has changed in the intervening years—we now have tens of thousands of employees and seven products that are used by more than a billion people every month—Google is still dedicated to building products for everyone. To celebrate our 20th birthday, we're taking a look back at what Google has been up to since 1998—and sharing a glimpse at where we're headed next.

30 articles in this collection

Twenty years of building for everyone

As we celebrate our birthday, we reflect on the progress we’ve made toward building technology that helps as many people as possible.

Improving Search for the next 20 years

Twenty years in, we remain grounded in our mission organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.

Inside Google’s original garage, 1998-style

Travel back in time and take a virtual stroll through the original Google Garage in Street View—just like it was 20 years ago.

Marking 20(ish) years of Google

This September marks our 20th birthday. We’re looking back on what we've accomplished and where we're headed next.

Throwbacks and thank yous on our 20th birthday

A thank you to our users after two decades of Search, with some celebratory surprises to boot.

Discover new information and inspiration with Search, no query required

Discover is an updated Google feed experience that keeps you inspired and informed about the interests and hobbies you care about most.

Helping you along your Search journeys

New features to help you resume tasks where you left off, keep track of useful content, and get suggestions of things to explore next.

Searching for Tuva: Before the internet and now

A quest to to learn about the country Tuva—in the 1970s and today.

Tips from the people behind your favorite Google products

Tips on some of Google's most-used products.

All talk, no type: 20 things you can do with your voice

When you speak up, the Google Assistant listens. Here are 20 ways you can get stuff done with the sound of your own voice.

Doodle me this: 20 notable Doodles from Google history

Aliens, fairy tales, and Momo the Cat: 20 of the most notable Google Doodle moments of all time.

20 things you didn't know you could do with Search

Started with ten blue links and now we're here.

Oh, The Things You’ll Find

Roll a dice, flip a coin, if you’re feeling lucky (or not).

Happy 10th birthday Chrome—the best is yet to come

Ten years after Chrome launched, we're still focused on giving you a smarter, more immersive browsing experience.

No need to dig, here are 20 treasures from Google Arts & Culture

Take a quick tour through 20 hidden treasures from Google Arts & Culture’s massive collection.

How insights from user research help us build for the next billion

A look at the research behind Neighbourly, a local search app available in seven cities in India.

With the help of Google Search, one woman finds her way

A Google Search started Robin Máxkii on a journey to becoming a leader and advocate for STEM education and access in her community.

How a Google.org grantee is testing new approaches to global aid

GiveDirectly uses unconditional direct cash transfers to help communities in need.

Technology for today’s world: helping you reclaim a sense of balance

Here’s a look at some of the ways we’re helping you reclaim a sense of balance and focus on what matters most to you.

Making visual content more useful in Search

We're using AI to make your search experience more visual, and updating Google Images to be more useful and powerful.

Keeping people safe with AI-enabled flood forecasting

With AI and significant computational power, we can create better forecasting models that predict when and where floods will occur.

Helping people find Pathways to their next job through Search

A new effort coming to Google Search aims to connect you with job training programs in your community.

Bringing hope to a refugee family, using Google Translate

How one Googler used Google Translate to help a refugee family.

Grow with Google: helping Brazilians succeed in a digital world

Grow with Google went to six cities around Brazil to reach small business owners and job seekers, educators, women and journalists.

Every summer, Google’s campus is for the birds

The story behind an egret nesting area on Google's Mountain View campus.

Building Google News for everyone—a retrospective

First launched in 2002, Google News sits right at the core of Google's mission. Hear from the team that's reimagining News for today.

Building the map of Canada’s north

Bringing Street View to Canada’s arctic gets us closer to our goal of creating the world’s most comprehensive, accurate and usable map.

Chrome's turning 10. Here's what's new

Introducing Google Chrome, 10th anniversary edition

As the Chrome dino runs, we caught up with the Googlers who built it

Meet the team behind Chrome's offline dino game, and learn about the dino's journey from the Cretaceous period to the modern browser.

The path to a sustainable future begins with informed decisions

By giving people access to information, Google can play a key role in helping people, governments and companies tackle climate change.