Google One, the cloud storage and AI subscription service offered by Alphabet (GOOGL.O), has just reached a significant milestone, surpassing 150 million subscribers, the company confirmed to Reuters. This marks a 50% growth since February 2024, when the service first crossed the 100 million subscriber mark—almost six years after its launch.
In February of this year, Google launched a new plan priced at $19.99 per month, offering subscribers exclusive access to AI features that free users can’t access. While Google One continues to offer more affordable plans for file storage, those lower-priced options don’t include the full suite of AI tools that the new plan does. Shimrit Ben-Yair, a Google VP in charge of the subscription service, noted that the introduction of the AI plan has contributed to “millions” of new sign-ups.
This surge in subscriptions is part of Alphabet’s broader push to diversify its revenue streams, with the company attempting to shift focus away from its traditional advertising model, which accounts for the bulk of its massive $350 billion revenue in 2024. As the company navigates the growing competition from AI-powered chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and its own Gemini, this successful subscription model could play a crucial role in Alphabet’s long-term financial strategy.
In addition to Google One’s impressive growth, AI has already made its mark in the tech world, with Apple’s Safari browser seeing a noticeable dip in search activity, according to an Apple executive’s testimony during a recent court case. The decline marked a first for Safari, as Apple now seeks to introduce AI-driven search features—posing a potential challenge to Alphabet’s dominant search engine. On the same day, Alphabet saw a staggering $150 billion drop in market value, highlighting the pressure AI could place on traditional search engines.
Unlike the familiar model of search engines, where advertising is seamlessly integrated into the user experience, AI interfaces have yet to figure out a smooth way to incorporate ads. As a result, many companies are opting for subscription-based or product-usage-driven pricing models to capitalize on AI’s growing influence. This shift has left investors wondering how Google will adjust to the evolving landscape.
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, addressed these concerns during a February earnings call, explaining that the company plans to offer users various options over time, similar to what they’ve done with YouTube. “For this year, I think you’ll see us be focused on the subscription direction,” Pichai stated, signaling that subscriptions like Google One will continue to play a central role in Google’s approach to monetizing its AI innovations.
As the AI revolution continues to unfold, the future of services like Google One will likely be key in Alphabet’s ability to stay competitive and adapt in a rapidly changing technological environment.
Google One достиг впечатляющего рубежа в 150 миллионов подписчиков, что говорит о растущем интересе к облачным и AI-услугам. Введение нового тарифа за $19.99 с эксклюзивными AI-функциями явно привлекло внимание пользователей, но не кажется ли вам, что это может создать разделение между платными и бесплатными пользователями? Мне интересно, насколько эти AI-инструменты действительно полезны для обычного пользователя, или это больше маркетинговый ход? Также, учитывая конкуренцию с ChatGPT и другими AI-платформами, как Google планирует удерживать лидерство? И, наконец, падение рыночной стоимости Alphabet на $150 миллиардов — это временное явление или признак более глубоких проблем? Хотелось бы услышать ваше мнение по этим вопросам.