Fortune Interview: The future according to Google's Larry Page

[engine]

It's a long, yet interesting piece about the future, and there's not much about 'search' in there.

Google CEO Larry Page envisions a future in which computers plan your vacations, drive your cars, and anticipate your whims. Audacious? Maybe. But Page's dreams have a way of coming true.Fortune Interview: The future according to Google's Larry Page [tech.fortune.cnn.com]

For years, Page and other Google execs have mused about the perfect search engine. It would always understand what you mean. It would know you and would deliver results tailored to your interests. And it would give you answers to things that matter to you -- even when you didn't ask.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

For years, Page and other Google execs have mused about the perfect search engine. It would always understand what you mean. It would know you and would deliver results tailored to your interests. And it would give you answers to things that matter to you -- even when you didn't ask.

The perfect search engine is now the one that provides the best bottom line. Don't let anyone tell you differently.

A search engine that fills the main parts of a page with paid ads that are not necessarily relevant is not a good search engine.

[martinibuster]

Wow, good article. The theme of the article is the future. It's an inspirational article, including a peek at how Larry Page maintains a top-down order and control within the company. Do yourself a favor and read the article, there is plenty in there that is inspirational in ways of managing a business or product. I think Larry Page is out-Steve Jobbing Steve Jobs.

On evaluating a product's usefulness:

He insists that new products pass a "toothbrush test" -- they must be important enough that most people will use them at least twice a day.

Regarding companies like Microsoft and Yelp who were complaining about Google's foray into travel and hotels, he rightly highlights the mediocrity and lack of innovation at those complaining companies:

Google could offer a service that could "basically vacation plan for you," Page says. It would take your preferences, combine them with information about weather, hotel, and airline prices, and suggest a vacation plan. Says Page: "I don't think the companies that are complaining about various components of what we do are trying to do that."

On Google's focus on innovation:

"Not enough people are focused on big change," he says. To Page, that's as much a fact as it is an opportunity.

[engine]

How good is it to be able to invest and develop those ideas kicking around in his head!

As far as other companies are concerned, they have to innovate if they want to remain in the forefront of users minds, especially where tech is concerned.

[martinibuster]

There are others, individuals and companies, with the money to do the same. But the difference is they dont' step back to look at the bigger picture the way Larry Page does. It's almost like the others don't have the ideas in their heads to kick around.