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Bard answers questions about Google’s biggest office outside America

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Google’s biggest office outside America is located in Hyderabad, India. I just learnt that from Google’s AI chatbot, Bard.

“I started answering questions from people on March 21, 2023. That was the day that Google opened access to me to a limited number of users in the United States and Britain. On May 10, 2023, Google removed the waitlist and made me available in over 180 countries and territories,” said Bard.

Google celebrated its 25th birthday on September 25. I still remember the barebones Google search page when it was launched in September 1998. Who knew then the company would grow into a behemoth? Alphabet, Google’s parent company, is currently the world’s fourth largest company by market capitalisation with US$1.73 trillion, behind Apple, Microsoft and Aramco, in that order, and just ahead of Amazon.

Google doodle on Google's 25th birthday on  September 25, 2023
Google doodle on Google’s 25th birthday on September 25, 2023

I started asking Bard questions about Google Singapore on Google’s birthday.

While answering my questions on Google Singapore, Bard also mentioned Google’s presence in India.

That’s when I began asking Bard questions about Google’s activities in India.

Here are my questions and Bard’s answers edited for clarity. (Bard’s American spellings have been retained.)

Q. How big is Google in India? How many employees does Google have in India?

Bard answers question about Google's office in Hyderabad, India
Bard answers question about Google’s office in Hyderabad, India

A. Google is one of the biggest tech companies in India, with offices in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Gurgaon. As of September 27, 2023, Google employs 10,001 to 50,000 employees in India, according to AmbitionBox. This makes India one of the largest markets for Google outside of the United States.

Google has been investing heavily in India in recent years, and has announced plans to double its workforce in the country in the next two years. Google is also working on developing products and solutions that are tailor-made for the Indian market. For example, Google has launched a number of initiatives to promote digital literacy and internet access in India.

Google’s presence in India is significant, both for the company itself and for the Indian economy. Google is a major employer in India, and its investments in the country are helping to drive innovation and economic growth.

Q. What is Google’s total revenue in India?

A. Google’s total revenue in India in the fiscal year 2022 (FY22) was INR 9,439 crore (approximately USD 1.2 billion). This represents a 48% increase from the previous fiscal year. IT services contributed 52% of Google India’s total revenue in FY22, followed by advertising revenue (28%) and enterprise products (10%).

Google’s revenue in India is expected to continue to grow in the coming years, as the country’s digital economy continues to expand. India is one of the fastest growing internet markets in the world, and Google is well-positioned to benefit from this growth.

Q. Where in India is Google’s biggest office and largest number of employees?

A. Google’s biggest office and largest number of employees in India are located in Hyderabad, Telangana. Google currently employs over 10,000 employees in Hyderabad, which is more than any other Google office in India.

Google’s Hyderabad office is a state-of-the-art facility that is designed to foster collaboration and innovation. The office has a variety of amenities, including a gym, a cafeteria, and a rooftop terrace. Google’s Hyderabad office is also home to a number of Google’s key product teams, including the Google Search team and the Google Maps team.

Google’s Hyderabad office is a major contributor to the city’s economy. The office is a major employer in Hyderabad, and its investments in the city are helping to drive innovation and economic growth.

Please note that Google is currently building its largest campus outside of its headquarters in Mountain View, California in Hyderabad. The new campus is expected to be completed in 2025 and will accommodate up to 20,000 employees.

Q. What does Google do in India? What are Google’s main activities in India?

A. Google has a wide range of activities in India, including:

  • Search: Google Search is the most popular search engine in India, with a market share of over 95%. Google Search is used by millions of Indians every day to find information on the web.
  • Advertising: Google Ads is the most popular online advertising platform in India. Google Ads allows businesses to reach their target audience with relevant ads.
  • Cloud computing: Google Cloud Platform is a suite of cloud computing services that are used by businesses of all sizes in India. Google Cloud Platform offers a wide range of services, including computing, storage, databases, and networking.
  • Hardware: Google sells a variety of hardware products in India, including smartphones, laptops, and smart speakers. Google’s hardware products are popular in India because they are affordable and offer good value for money.
  • Software: Google offers a variety of software products in India, including Android, Chrome, and Gmail. Google’s software products are popular in India because they are free and easy to use.

In addition to these core activities, Google is also involved in a number of other initiatives in India, such as:

  • Digital literacy: Google is working to promote digital literacy and internet access in India. For example, Google has launched a number of programs to train rural Indians on how to use the internet.
  • Startup ecosystem: Google is supporting the startup ecosystem in India. For example, Google has launched a number of programs to provide funding and mentorship to Indian startups.
  • Research and development: Google has a number of research and development centers in India. These centers are working on developing new products and technologies that are relevant to the Indian market.

Google’s activities in India are having a positive impact on the country’s economy and society. Google is a major employer in India, and its investments in the country are helping to drive innovation and economic growth. Google is also helping to promote digital literacy and internet access in India, which is essential for the country’s development.

Q. How many users does Google have in India?

A. Google has over 500 million active users in India, making it the second-largest market for Google outside of the United States. This number is expected to continue to grow in the coming years, as the country’s digital economy continues to expand.

Google’s popularity in India is due to a number of factors, including:

  • Affordability: Google’s products and services are generally affordable for Indians.
  • Accessibility: Google’s products and services are available in a variety of Indian languages.
  • Usefulness: Google’s products and services are useful for Indians in their daily lives.

Google’s dominance in the Indian market is also due to the lack of strong local competition. There are a few Indian companies that offer similar products and services to Google, but they have not been able to gain significant market share.

Google’s large user base in India is a valuable asset for the company. Google can use its user base to collect data and insights about the Indian market. This data can then be used to develop new products and services that are relevant to the Indian market.

Google’s large user base in India is also a valuable asset for Indian businesses. Indian businesses can use Google’s products and services to reach their target audience and grow their businesses.

Q. When did Google set up its first office in India? How many employees did it have in India then?

A. Google set up its first office in India in 2004 in Hyderabad, Telangana. The office started with a team of 5 people and has since grown to over 10,000 employees, making it Google’s largest office outside of the United States.

Google’s entry into the Indian market was a significant event, as it marked the beginning of the company’s expansion into emerging markets. India is now one of Google’s most important markets, and the company is investing heavily in the country.

Google’s presence in India has had a positive impact on the country’s economy and society. Google is a major employer in India, and its investments in the country are helping to drive innovation and economic growth. Google is also helping to promote digital literacy and internet access in India, which is essential for the country’s development.

Q. When did Google expand in India and why?

A. Google expanded in India in 2004, the same year it opened its first office in the country. Google’s expansion into India was motivated by a number of factors, including:

  • India’s large and growing population: India is the second-most populous country in the world, with over 1.4 billion people. Google saw India as a huge opportunity to grow its user base.
  • India’s growing internet penetration: India’s internet penetration rate has been growing rapidly in recent years. In 2004, only about 4% of Indians had access to the internet. However, by 2023, over 60% of Indians had access to the internet. This growth in internet penetration made India a more attractive market for Google.
  • India’s young and tech-savvy population: India has a large and young population, many of whom are tech-savvy. Google saw this as a positive sign, as it meant that there was a large potential market for its products and services in India.

Google’s expansion into India has been successful. The company now has over 500 million active users in India, making it the second-largest market for Google outside of the United States. Google is also a major employer in India, and its investments in the country are helping to drive innovation and economic growth.

In addition to the factors listed above, Google was also motivated to expand into India by the fact that the country has a large and growing number of small businesses. Google saw this as an opportunity to help small businesses in India reach their target audiences and grow their businesses.

Google’s expansion into India has been beneficial for both the company and the country. Google has gained access to a large and growing market, and India has benefited from Google’s investments and expertise.

Q. Where is Google’s biggest office and largest number of employees outside America?

A. Google’s biggest office and largest number of employees outside of the United States is in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Google currently employs over 10,000 employees in Hyderabad, which is more than any other Google office outside of the United States.

Google’s Hyderabad office is a state-of-the-art facility that is designed to foster collaboration and innovation. The office has a variety of amenities, including a gym, a cafeteria, and a rooftop terrace. Google’s Hyderabad office is also home to a number of Google’s key product teams, including the Google Search team and the Google Maps team.

Google’s Hyderabad office is a major contributor to the city’s economy. The office is a major employer in Hyderabad, and its investments in the city are helping to drive innovation and economic growth.

Please note that Google is currently building its largest campus outside of its headquarters in Mountain View, California in Hyderabad. The new campus is expected to be completed in 2025 and will accommodate up to 20,000 employees.

Q. Why is Google’s biggest office outside America located in Hyderabad, India?

A. There are a number of reasons why Google’s biggest office outside of America is located in Hyderabad, India:

  • Talent: Hyderabad is home to a large pool of talented engineers and other professionals who are skilled in the technologies that Google uses. This gives Google access to a deep talent pool to draw from when hiring new employees.
  • Cost: The cost of doing business in Hyderabad is relatively low, compared to other major tech hubs in the world. This allows Google to operate its Hyderabad office more efficiently and cost-effectively.
  • Proximity to markets: Hyderabad is centrally located in India, which makes it a good base for Google to serve the Indian market. The city is also well-connected to other major cities in India and around the world.
  • Government support: The Telangana state government has been supportive of Google’s operations in Hyderabad. The government has provided Google with tax breaks and other incentives, and it has also helped Google to acquire the land needed for its new campus.

In addition to these factors, Google may have also chosen to locate its biggest office outside of America in Hyderabad because of the city’s rich culture and heritage. Hyderabad is a vibrant city with a diverse population. The city is also home to a number of historical and cultural landmarks.

Overall, Hyderabad is a good location for Google’s biggest office outside of America because it offers a number of advantages, including a talented workforce, low costs, proximity to markets, and government support.

Q. What are the principal activities of Google’s Hyderbad office? What do the Google employees there do?

A. Google’s Hyderabad office is a major center for the company’s engineering and product development activities. The office is home to a number of Google’s key product teams, including the Google Search team, the Google Maps team, and the Google Cloud Platform team.

Google employees in Hyderabad work on a variety of projects, including:

  • Developing new features and improvements for Google’s existing products and services
  • Building new products and services for the Indian market
  • Supporting Google’s customers in India
  • Working on research and development projects

Google’s Hyderabad office also plays a significant role in the company’s social and economic impact in India. The office is a major employer in Hyderabad, and its investments in the city are helping to drive innovation and economic growth. Google is also working to promote digital literacy and internet access in India, which is essential for the country’s development.

Here are some specific examples of the work that Google employees in Hyderabad do:

  • Develop new algorithms and machine learning models to improve the accuracy and relevance of Google Search results
  • Build new features for Google Maps, such as real-time traffic information and live transit updates
  • Develop new cloud computing services for Indian businesses and organizations
  • Support Indian customers with their Google Ads campaigns
  • Work on research projects to improve the accessibility of the internet in rural India

Google’s Hyderabad office is a vital part of the company’s global operations, and it is playing a significant role in Google’s mission to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.

Q. What are the principal activities of Google India? How does it differ from Google offices in other countries?

A. The principal activities of Google India are:

  • Engineering and product development: Google India has a number of engineering and product development centers across the country, where employees are working on developing new features and improvements for Google’s existing products and services, as well as building new products and services for the Indian market.
  • Customer support: Google India has a large customer support team that provides support to Indian customers in a variety of languages.
  • Research and development: Google India has a number of research and development centers that are working on developing new technologies and solutions for the Indian market.
  • Social and economic impact initiatives: Google India is involved in a number of social and economic impact initiatives, such as promoting digital literacy and internet access in rural India, and supporting Indian startups.

Google India’s activities are similar to those of Google offices in other countries, but there are some key differences. For example, Google India places a greater emphasis on developing products and services for the Indian market. Google India also has a larger customer support team than many other Google offices, due to the large number of Indian users of Google’s products and services.

Here are some specific examples of how Google India’s activities differ from those of Google offices in other countries:

  • Google India has developed a number of features and products specifically for the Indian market, such as Google Pay, a mobile payments platform that is used by millions of Indians, and Google Maps in Hindi, which is the first Indian language to be supported by the app.
  • Google India has a large customer support team that provides support in a variety of Indian languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, and Telugu.
  • Google India is involved in a number of social and economic impact initiatives that are specifically focused on India, such as the Google for India Digitization Fund, which is a $10 billion fund that is being used to support the growth of the Indian digital economy.

Overall, Google India is a major player in the Indian tech ecosystem, and its activities are having a significant impact on the country’s economy and society.

Q. Where is Google’s biggest office in Europe (including UK)? In which European country (including the UK) does Google have the largest number of employees and its biggest operations?

A. Google’s biggest office in Europe (including the UK) is located in London, UK. The office is located in the King’s Cross area of the city and is home to over 10,000 employees. The office is also the headquarters of Google UK and Ireland.

Google’s London office is a state-of-the-art facility that is designed to foster collaboration and innovation. The office has a variety of amenities, including a gym, a cafeteria, and a rooftop terrace. Google’s London office is also home to a number of Google’s key product teams, including the Google Search team and the Google Maps team.

Google’s London office is a major contributor to the city’s economy. The office is a major employer in London, and its investments in the city are helping to drive innovation and economic growth.

Google also has large offices in other European cities, such as Dublin, Ireland; Zurich, Switzerland; and Paris, France. However, the London office is the company’s largest office in Europe and is home to the company’s largest number of employees in Europe.

Here is a summary of Google’s biggest office in Europe, including the UK:

  • Location: London, UK
  • Number of employees: Over 10,000
  • Key product teams: Google Search, Google Maps, and more
  • Economic impact: Major contributor to the London economy.