Google at 25: CEO says he wants to make people ‘shrug’ and reveals importance of lobsters to search engine
Google hopes that people in decades to come “shrug” at the technology it is working on, according to its chief executive. Sundar Pichai, the boss of both Google and parent company Alphabet, revealed the importance of making technology go from “extraordinary to ordinary” in a memo to staff written to celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary. Traditionally, Google celebrates its birthday on 27 September, for largely arbitrary reasons. The company undertook a number of firsts through the summer and autumn of 1998, meaning that it has a range of options to choose as its official launch date. This year, however, Google appears to be celebrating throughout the whole month. Mr Pichai’s note was intended as a way of kicking off those celebrations, according to an editor’s note attached to it. Mr Pichai said that it is a “huge privilege to reach this milestone, made possible by the people who use our products and challenge us to keep innovating, the hundreds of thousands of Googlers past and present who have given their talents to building those products, and our partners who believe in our mission as much as we do”. And he looked forward to the future technology that the company is building, which revolves largely around artificial intelligence. But it hopes that those technologies become normal, Mr Pichai said. “Ideas my dad marveled at as science fiction — taking a call from your watch, or telling your car to play your favorite song — make my children shrug,” he wrote. “Those shrugs give me great hope for the future. They set a high bar for what the next generation will build and invent... and I can’t wait to see what will make their children shrug, too. “An essential truth of innovation is that the moment you push the boundary of a technology, it soon goes from extraordinary to ordinary. That’s why Google has never taken our success for granted.” Concluding the note, he said that he hoped that the contested questions of artificial intelligence will eventually elicit the same kind of response. He noted that the technology has undergone sustained questioning and criticism in recent months, but indicated that he hopes it becomes ordinary in the same way. “As these new frontiers come into view, we have a renewed invitation to act boldly and responsibly to improve as many lives as possible, and to keep asking those big questions,” he wrote. “Our search for answers will drive extraordinary technology progress over the next 25 years. “And in 2048, if, somewhere in the world, a teenager looks at all we’ve built with AI and shrugs, we’ll know we succeeded. And then we’ll get back to work.” He also revealed the importance of lobsters to Google. The first company to use its advertising platform was a “mail-order business selling lobsters”, he said – and that platform has since gone on to contribute the vast majority of Google’s revenues. Read More Why is Elon Musk obsessed with the letter X? Elon Musk ‘borrowed $1bn from SpaceX’ at same time as Twitter acquisition Sonos releases Move 2, its chunky speaker for the outdoors Why is Elon Musk obsessed with the letter X? Elon Musk ‘borrowed $1bn from SpaceX’ at same time as Twitter acquisition Sonos releases Move 2, its chunky speaker for the outdoors
1970-01-01 08:00
What will it take for Georgia to give Brock Vandagriff a real shot at starting QB role?
Carson Beck is the Georgia starting quarterback, but he did not exactly run away with it in Week 1 vs. UT-Martin. Could Brock Vandagriff or even Gunner Stockton overtake on the UGA depth chart?
1970-01-01 08:00
Donald Trump Would Debate Meghan Markle Because He Doesn't Like the Way She Dealt With the Queen
Donald Trump may have started a rivalry with Meghan Markle during a new interview.
1970-01-01 08:00
Fortnite One Piece Creative Map Code
The Fortnite One Piece Creative map code is 7374-8187-1871 and will transport players into a One Piece-inspired pirate adventure in Fortnite.
1970-01-01 08:00
NBA rumors: Lillard-Heat trade talks might be dead, 76ers sign familiar vet, Griffin won't be back in Boston
In today's NBA rumors, the Lillard-Heat talks have gone quiet, Danny Green has a new home and Blake Griffin doesn't.
1970-01-01 08:00
Roku is laying off 10% of its workforce
Roku stock soared higher on Wednesday after the streaming service announced it would lay off 10% of its workforce — about 300 people — in an effort to cut costs.
1970-01-01 08:00
PointsBet NFL Promo Code: Bet $50, Win an Official Fanatics NFL Jersey of Your Choice!
Win $150 in Fanatics credit to buy a new NFL jersey when you sign up with PointsBet Sportsbook and bet your first $50. Read more to learn how you can receive your jersey as soon as possible.
1970-01-01 08:00
Best hotels with cookery schools in the UK: Brush up on your culinary skills during a staycation
Whether you’re looking for a break amid the peaceful locks of Scotland, the rugged coast of Northern Ireland, the picture-postcard villages of England, or the rolling hills of Wales, staycations are clearly here to, well, stay. But, for many of us, a short break needs to deliver not just a change of scene, but also the opportunity to be pampered and coddled at a swanky spa, indulge in our favourite hobbies, such as golfing or clay-pigeon shooting in glorious grounds, or learn new skills from esteemed experts, such as a renowned chef heading up a hotel’s cutting-edge kitchen. So, if you’re after a gourmet culinary break, during which you can not only eat great fodder but learn how to prepare and make it too, then a trip to a hotel with a cookery school should be right up your street. Fortunately, the UK is abundant in hotels that boast destination restaurants, which are more than happy to open up their kitchens and recipe books to guests, and share their skills and tricks of the trade. From grand hotels with Michelin chefs to cosy country kitchens with skilled and friendly tutors, take your pick from our round-up of the UK’s best hotels with cooking classes – many of which offer day courses, too. The best UK hotels with cookery schools are: Best for a small and cosy course: Northcote Best for a friendly vibe: Lainston House Best for Michelin-star restaurant: Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons Best for seafood-lovers: Rick Stein Best for a relaxing course: Llanerch Vineyard Best for a castle-based course: Swinton Park Best for Aga fans: Eckington Manor Best for a small and cosy course: Northcote Location: Langho, Lancashire This is arguably the most talked-about foodie hotel in the North West, with the restaurant having retained its Michelin star for 20 years. In the cookery school, you can learn how to master everything from bread and seafood to spicing and Mexican fare with a range of different courses run by Rick Ogden and Ben Hinchliffe, along with guest chefs. Up to six dishes will be demonstrated, and you’ll get the chance to cook at least four yourself, as well as enjoying a two-course lunch as part of the experience. Best for a friendly vibe: Lainston House Location: Winchester, Hampshire This magnificent 17th-century William and Mary country house hotel is home to Season, a state-of-the-art cookery school, located in the characterful old well house. It runs half- and full-day courses, covering everything from stocks and sauces to French classics and much more. There’s a relaxed, friendly vibe and an emphasis on provenance, where possible using local produce, much of which is grown in the on-site kitchen garden. There are 50 individually designed guestrooms in the hotel, plus a three-AA Rosette restaurant, The Avenue. Best for Michelin-star restaurant: Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons Location: Great Milton, Oxfordshire The Raymond Blanc Cookery School, set in the glorious grounds of his 13th-century manor house hotel and restaurant, caters for beginners right through to experienced cooks, and is one of the only cookery schools in the world that enables you to learn in the kitchens of a two-Michelin-starred restaurant. The head tutor, Mark Peregrine, is one of the best in the business (he helped Blanc get his first Michelin star) and the kitchen itself is as high-end as you can imagine. If you can afford it, unwind in one of the luxurious bedrooms of the hotel afterwards and feast on the hotel’s renowned cuisine. Best for seafood fans: Rick Stein Location: Padstow, Cornwall Preparing fish in Rick Stein’s bold yet simple style in this stunning kitchen overlooking the Camel Estuary is as good as it gets when it comes to seafood cookery – this is serious cooking in a relaxed environment. You can stay in one of the 16 coastal-inspired rooms of Stein’s flagship seafood restaurant a short walk away, or opt for one of his other hotels. Either way, you can dine in one of his many eateries in this charming seaside harbour town, which is increasingly known as Pad-stein. Book now Best for a relaxing course: Llanerch Vineyard Location: Vale of Glamorgan, Wales This stylish hotel is located on a working vineyard just 12 miles from Cardiff, with 10 chic rooms and suites spread across the main farmhouse and an adjacent annexe, as well as separate cottages. The hotel is also home to a fabulous bistro, formal dining restaurant and the Angela Gray Cookery School. Angela runs classes lasting from a few hours upwards, in which she promotes cooking as relaxing and even meditative, yet packs in the prepping and cooking of plenty of dishes. Choose from themes ranging from pastry to Italian fare, all of which will see you taking some of your culinary delights home with you at the end of the day. Best for a castle-based course: Swinton Park Location: Masham, North Yorkshire Set in a 17th-century, 30-bedroom castle hotel within 20,000 acres of grounds in the Yorkshire Dales, the cookery school is run by chef tutor, Luke Palmer. It’s housed in a converted Georgian stable wing and offers an impressively wide range of courses, all of which include an element of hands-on, practical cookery, using locally sourced food where possible. Best for Aga fans: Eckington Manor Location: Eckington, Cotswolds This cookery school blends beautifully into the rural background, based as it is in the Dutch barn of a 26-acre working farm and hotel. Courses are designed to be challenging but fun, and range from modern British classics to Aga cooking, and from restaurant dishes at home to bread making. Read more of our UK hotel reviews: The best UK hotels with swimming pools The best family-friendly UK hotels The best Cornwall hotels Read more about UK travel: The best London hotels for afternoon tea England’s best foodie hotels and pubs Best spa hotels in the Cotswolds Read More Best luxury UK hotels 2023: Where to stay for great food, family adventures and spa retreats The ultimate foodie guide to Copenhagen 10 of the best hotels for golfers in the UK and Ireland 2023: Where to practise your swing in style 9 best adventure holidays in the UK that adrenaline seekers will love Best October half-term holiday destinations in the UK for a 2023 staycation 7 best activity holidays in Wales for couples and families
1970-01-01 08:00
Western officials arrive in the UAE amid push to deprive Russia of advanced microchips
Senior Western officials are visiting the United Arab Emirates to discuss sanctions as concerns mount over goods being exported to Russia that could potentially be used in Moscow's war on Ukraine.
1970-01-01 08:00
Chris Jericho comments on CM Punk's AEW departure: "What a way to go out"
Chris Jericho has addressed the departure of CM Punk from All Elite Wrestling after the wrestler was fired earlier this week following a series of altercations. Punk, real name Phil Brooks, was fired from AEW by the promotion's co-founder Tony Khan following a confrontation with Jack Perry at Wembley Stadium during the record-breaking All In show on August 27th. Punk was also said to have 'lunged' at Khan following the incident which resulted in several monitors falling over. In a statement following Punk's firing, Khan said that he had never previously "feared for his life" at a wrestling show until that moment. The departure of the former world champion has cast an air of speculation and controversy around Punk, who still managed to open the show at Wembley with Samoa Joe in a widely praised match. Chris Jericho, one of AEW's other top names revealed that he spoke to Punk on the day to ask him about a spot in his match which ended in a joke about Punk's finishing move, the Go To Sleep (GTS), as reported by F4WOnline. Speaking on his Talk is Jericho podcast, the 52-year-old said: "I don't want to dwell on this or talk about it but I should address it. Of course, CM Punk no longer with AEW, and Wembley was his last match, what a way to go out. "I did talk to him briefly. I was going to do a Frankensteiner off the top and I know that he does that sometimes so I was just curious if he was doing it. I went and talked to him for a bit and asked him if he was doing it, he wasn't. Then I told him I was going to do the GTS with a straight face and I think for a second he thought that I was going to and I was joking, of course." Jericho continued by saying that it was a sad moment for the fledgling company but continued to praise Punk. "I did see him that day and once again, it's a regretful moment what happened but Tony Khan made his decision," Jericho added. "Like I said, CM Punk was a big part of AEW for the time he was here and if you're going to go out, he went out on top, for sure." Punk leaving AEW has sparked rumours that he could be returning to WWE, a promotion he left in 2014, also under controversial circumstances. However, resurfaced footage from Seth Rollins would suggest that not everyone in the WWE locker room would be too keen to see him return. After his match at Wembley, Punk also appeared to mouth the words 'goodbye' suggesting that he knew at that point his time in AEW was up. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Climate change is hurting Six Flags, SeaWorld and Disney World
Over the weekend, intense rain and flooding stranded more than 70,000 people at Burning Man in the Nevada desert. It's the latest example of how extreme weather, exacerbated by climate change, impacted major North American attractions this summer.
1970-01-01 08:00
NBA 2K24 Season 1 Rewards: Full List
NBA 2K24 Season 1 rewards include a Diamond Kyrie Irving, Amethyst Jayson Tatum, Gold Floor Setter, extra VC, Tier Skips, and plenty of cosmetics.
1970-01-01 08:00
