Alphabet Inc.

In this episode of Acquired, Ben and David delve into the story of Google, starting from its early days as a search engine to its evolution into a diverse technology conglomerate. They discuss Google's strategic moves, including the launch of Gmail, Maps, and Docs, and its acquisition of YouTube and DoubleClick, highlighting how these products and acquisitions served Google's mission to organize the world's information and defend against competition from Microsoft and Facebook. The hosts analyze Google's business model, its culture of innovation, and its approach to product development, emphasizing the company's unique ability to leverage its resources and infrastructure to create valuable products and services. They also touch on Google's failures, such as Google Plus, and discuss the company's transition into Alphabet, setting the stage for a future focused on AI and other ambitious ventures.