Google created the core technology of generative AI—the Transformer (the “T” in ChatGPT)—yet was caught “flatfooted” by OpenAI’s release.
On this episode of Beyond the Billions, Forbes senior writer Richard Nieva joins Deputy Editor Giacomo Tognini to dive into the dramatic corporate struggle: why the incumbent delayed commercializing its AI due to reputational risk, the internal “Code Red” declared by the company, and the return of co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin to drive the turnaround.
They detail the massive strategic shift, including merging Google Brain and DeepMind, the release of the high-quality Gemini model, and the advantage of their proprietary Tensor Processing Units (TPUs). Learn how these changes led to Alphabet’s stock soaring more than 60%. We also look ahead to their $90 billion infrastructure investment and the potential for commercializing DeepMind’s AlphaFold, the software that won its creators a Nobel prize.
00:00 This Week In Billionaires…
02:04 2016: Google’s ‘AI First’ Declaration
04:20 Caught Flatfooted: Why Google Lost The Lead
08:23 A “Code Red”: The Founders’ Return
09:38 The Gemini Breakthrough And The AI Race
11:32 The Secret Weapon: Google’s In-House TPUs
18:02 $90 Billion: Fueling The Infrastructure War
21:00 Beyond Search: AlphaFold And The Future of AI
To read more about Google’s early struggles in the AI wars:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardnieva/2023/02/08/google-openai-chatgpt-microsoft-bing-ai/
To read more about Sergey Brin’s return to Google: https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardnieva/2023/01/31/sergey-brin-code-request-lamda/
To read more about Google’s launch of Gemini: https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardnieva/2024/02/08/google-gemini-bard-advanced/
To read more about the battle between Netflix and Paramount for Warner Bros. Discovery: https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattcraig/2025/12/06/how-the-ellisons-could-still-land-warner-bros/
To read more about Medline’s IPO and the Mills family: https://www.forbes.com/sites/amyfeldman/2025/12/08/medlines-mills-founding-family-has-6-billion-plus-stake-in-its-upcoming-blockbuster-ipo/
To read more about Beijing-based Nvidia rival Moore Threads and its IPO: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ywang/2025/12/05/chinese-challenger-to-nvidia-mints-a-new-billionaire-as-its-stock-soars-over-420-in-trading-debut/
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