When you think of Google these days what comes to mind? For me I no longer think of them as my search engine. Nor do I think about them as the world’s best advertising company.
For me, Google these days is more about the future. By that I mean I get the feeling Google are starting to build not just the world’s biggest company, but also possibly the world’s biggest empire (cue Star Wars music).
In fact I’ve said before there’s every chance that Google (or Apple or Microsoft) one day could become a sovereign state. GoogZealand, or GooGreece perhaps. They’ve got the money to buy a country, and with the state of some global economies it might actually just make sense.
The more I look into it, the more I can’t help but think Google is setting up to become the world’s next superpower…in about 50 years time.
Take a second to think about that. Google, with the might and power of China or the US. Right now some of you will probably slam the keyboard in disgust and say, ‘What is this guy on. As if a private company could challenge government.’
And I hope one or more of you do think this is one of the craziest things you’ve heard of. That means I’m doing my job; at least it’s making you think.
The Beginning of the Takeover
Let me reel through a few of the projects Google has, been working on in recent times.
Google Search: The obvious one. To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.
Google Chrome: The most used web browser in the world. Want to control the internet? Control how people look at it and how they get their information from it. Chrome is now becoming more than just a web browser. Chrome Cast is now taking Chrome onto your TVs.
Android Operating System: The world’s most used mobile operating system. This one came from their Moonshots division. Android was a project by the company Android. Then Google bought them. Now more mobiles devices in the world use Android than any other kind of operating system.
Project Loon: Balloon powered internet for everyone. Some people live in areas where they can’t get the internet. Well not anymore. By putting some balloons about 20km into the atmosphere Google will be able to provide high speed internet…to everyone.
Google Fiber: Internet 100X faster than today’s average broadband speeds. Google knows that to advance technology we need super fast internet. So instead of waiting for snail-paced Telco’s to do something about it, they did.
Google Calico: To tackle the challenge of ageing and associated diseases. This is Google trying to solve immortality. Plain and simple. This company, under Google’s umbrella, will seek to reverse or at least slow the ageing process.
Now the projects mentioned above are just a few of the things Google is working on. What you’ll notice is each takes on a very different industry. ‘Search’ is based on information and dissemination of information. Chrome takes on how we use and navigate the internet. Fiber and Loon are huge, successful, infrastructure projects. (Take note Mr. Turnbull…and your incompetent predecessor Conroy).
And Calico is taking on healthcare.
Now throw into the mix Google self driving cars (transport), Google+ (Social Networks), Google Shield (Cyber Security), and you start to see a lot of key portfolios that…let’s say a government would typically look after.
Probably won’t be long before there’s a Google Borders Without Barriers (Immigration), Googlympics (Sport) and who knows what else.
Where I’m heading with this is there’s one more project Google has just dove head first into. And that my friends, is Robotics.
It’s Not Like Terminator…It Is Terminator
You may have heard of a company, Boston Dynamics (BD). They’re responsible for making some of the worlds most advanced robots over the last couple of years. You can get intimate with the Boston Dynamics robots if you…Google…’BigDog’, ‘Atlas Robot’, ‘Cheetah Bot’ and ‘LS3′. (The Atlas Robot is the closest thing I’ve seen to a T-800)
What’s worthy to note is that for a significant period of time, Boston Dynamics has been part-funded by DARPA. That’s the American government’s highly secretive technology development division.
Well, not anymore. Google just bought Boston Dynamics. Google want in on Robots. And for good reason too.
You see our future will heavily rely on robots to do many of the day-to-day, menial tasks that we (humans) simply don’t want to do, or can’t do as well as a robot.
But for most people the term robot means exactly the kind of robots BD make. But there’s more to it than that.
Robots, by definition are, ‘a machine capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically, especially one programmable by a computer.‘ (I Google’d that definition by the way).
That means robots come in many shapes and sizes. It might be your self-driving car, your advanced 3D printer, your home surgical robot…even a robot pet. These are all real examples of robotics available now.
The Most Important Tech in a World of Technology
And like all complex machines, there’s a few key technologies that make them work at all. Without this technology any future robot will be useless.
At the very heart of all complex computers and robots are semiconductors and graphics processing units (GPUs) that help make the thing work. These tiny chips are the lifeblood of technology because without them information can’t be processed fast enough.
You think about how long it used to take you to download a whole webpage. Or even upload a photo back in the good old days of the early computers. Now think about how long it takes you to do those tasks now.
Now think about the most complex things you’ve ever done on a computer. It might be making a video, or playing a video game. The point is the only reason you can do so with such ease and speed now is the semiconductors, sensors and GPU’s that drive the beast.
Now picture the kinds of complex programming, and the kind of information, that’s needed to make a fully functional robot work…
While you’re thinking I’ll give you the answer; it’s a lot. Thousands times more than the processing speeds you’re used to at home. And that’s where the real opportunity lies when a company like Google decides it wants to get into Robotics.
Whether Google wants to take over the world with robots or not doesn’t really matter.
While most people will focus on the end result, it’s the sum of all the pieces that make the part. And that’s why the real opportunity is investing in the companies that make semi-conductors, GPU’s and hardware accelerators. Because without these technologies no robot is going to be able to process the data to even work properly.
In fact semi-conductors, GPU’s, sensors and microchips aren’t just vital to the future of robotics. They’re the key to any future with technology in it. Put it this way, when mankind evolved/created (whatever your beliefs) would you have invested in air if you had a chance?
It’s the same here. Technology needs semi-conductors, GPU’s, sensors and microchips. These tiny technologies are air to the machines and robots of the future.
These technologies are so important Kris Sayce and I have been working tirelessly on how to profit from it all. We’ve found what we consider to be the best companies set to capitalise on these amazing future technologies.
And that’s why we’ve got a big announcement to make this Friday.
You’re going to live through a time of enormous change. The things I’m writing about you’ll see happen with your own eyes. And we want to make sure when you see it, and experience it, you’ll also profit from it.
Sam Volkering,
Technology Analyst
From the Port Phillip Publishing Library
Special Report: The ‘Wonder Weld’ That Could Triple Your Money
