The new things that LMNOP corp. will be working on have staggering implications.
Larry Page begins a recent blog post explaining the transition of Google to Alphabet with nostalgia: “we…said that you could expect us to make “smaller bets in areas that might seem very speculative or even strange when compared to our current businesses.” He provides some examples of the crazy things they have taken on in the past, like maps, a video site, a browser, and a mobileOS (so crazy), but now get ready for stuff that’s even crazier:
-Health Efforts: Life Sciences (glucose-detecting “smart” contact lenses)
–Calico (aka fountain of youth aka drugs)… haha when you do an images search for the term, nothing but cute kittens.
-Machine learning (implemented in “free” softwares)
-X lab and “Drone delivery” (secret projects… DARPA style)
We’re tackling aging, one of life’s greatest mysteries.
Here are some other highlights:
- “We are still trying to do things other people think are crazy but we are super excited about.”
- “We liked the name Alphabet because it means a collection of letters that represent language”
- “We also like that it means alpha-bet (Alpha is investment return above benchmark)” -> I bet it’s bigger than Vegas.
- “Don’t worry, we’re still getting used to the name too”… So glad we can all not worry now that he said that.
- “improving transparency and oversight” and “hopefully…as a result of all this, improving the lives of as many people as we can.”
You can read the letter in its entirety here: Official Google Blog: G is for Google
Hmmm… what else has Google been up to since Regina Dugan came aboard… yar?
Digital tattoos matey that will open your smart phone, self driving cars, Tango (a prototype phone/tablet) that can map the world around (or the barrr), Spotlight Stories so people can immerse themselves into 3D animations. Wow… they really are on a role solving the world’s problems (one strange Bond invention at a time). I can’t think of anything more pressing to throw a lot of money at… except maybe global ecosystem collapse.
Woa… that’s so Bond. Make no mistake, there is a serious effort underway to commercialize something big. But I believe the Alpha-bet is all about getting into the drug and life extension business, with a focus on what is termed “treatments for diseases of aging”.
Will tech geeks be the new doctors soon? Will a self termed Alpha meet an Omega and give birth to a generation that doesn’t age, and if so, what will be the fate for the billions of others hanging around with short stay visas? This ultimate live play, interactive movie brought to you by Pixar.
“Calico will use its scientific expertise to establish a world-class research and development facility, with a focus on drug discovery and early drug development”
More links from Calico:
AncestryDNA and Calico to Research the Genetics of Human Lifespan
Google launches Calico, an anti-aging company led by an Apple executive
Google’s project to ‘cure death,’ Calico, announces $1.5 billion