Alphabet nearly doubled its annual revenue last year despite mounting regulatory pressure, thanks to both its continued dominance of online advertising and its investment in artificial intelligence (AI). Five years after CEO Sundar Pichai announced a wholesale embrace of AI, the tech giant is now using such technology “to tackle some of humanity’s most pressing challenges,” he says. For example, Alphabet helps users reduce their carbon footprint by providing eco-friendly routes in Maps, emissions data in Google Flights, and home-energy-use data with Nest thermostats.
A weekly newsletter featuring conversations with the world’s top CEOs, managers, and founders. Join the Leadership Brief.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- The New Face of Doctor Who
- How Private Donors Shape Birth-Control Choices
- What Happens if Trump Is Convicted? Your Questions, Answered
- Putin’s Enemies Are Struggling to Unite
- The Deadly Digital Frontiers at the Border
- Scientists Are Finding Out Just How Toxic Your Stuff Is
- The 31 Most Anticipated Movies of Summer 2024
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time