Google is 25 years old: how did we survive before?

© Presse-citron

• Google was created in September 1998
• Before its creation, there already existed search engines such as Altavista or Yahoo! Search
• There were even ancestors of Google Maps before 1998

This September, Google is celebrating its 25th anniversary. In fact, it was in September 1998 that the search engine was created. And since then, he has continued to expand his activities. As a result, the Mountain View firm has not only transformed the way we search for information on the internet, it has also transformed the way we entertain ourselves (with YouTube), move around (with Google Maps), and communicate (with Gmail).

Before Google launched in 1998, people used other search engines like Altavista or Yahoo! Search, both launched in 1995. Altavista was particularly popular in the late 90s. And according to a Forbes article, this search engine was still outpacing Google's traffic in 2000. But in 2001, according to The Guardian, Google has finally overtaken its rival. While Altavista tried to present itself as a portal, Google focused on search. Ultimately, Altavista was shut down by Yahoo! (who bought it, in the meantime), in 2013.

Otherwise, before Google launched its search engine and launched Google Maps, there already existed MapQuest. Created in 1996, this service is today considered the first online mapping service, according to Wikipedia. Our colleagues from TechRadar discuss another service, Multimap, which was launched in the United Kingdom. In 2007, it was bought by Microsoft to develop Bing's mapping service.

But in any case, the Mountain View firm has left an indelible mark on the digital world. And as it celebrates its 25th anniversary, it is preparing its shift towards the era of generative artificial intelligence, a technology that will radically transform the internet, as well as our societies.

“We love imagining new ways technology can help you every day and we're continually inspired by what you've used it for. We are also humbled by the opportunities ahead and the potential of AI to help us continue to fulfill our mission and improve the lives of even more people around the world,” reads in a note from the firm.