Google reabsorbing Jigsaw spin-off as it continues to undo Alphabet

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Search giant Google is continuing to absorb what it once split from itself to form Alphabet, and has taken back a branch designed to combat online misinformation called Jigsaw.

Sundar Pichai
Google CEO Sundar Pichai


While Jigsaw was originally formed within Google, it had been part of the operation that was separated from search to become part of Alphabet.

According to The Information, this is the third such standalone Alphabet unit that has been put back under Google control in the last two years. The previous units were smart home developer Nest, and security firm Chronicle.

Alphabet was formed in 2015 by Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. The intention was to separate out Google's core search company from everything else that it was doing. Google refers to these non-search businesses as "other bets" and has been willing to invest in them for their long-term potential.

Page and Brin formally stepped aside from running Google in December 2019, handing the company over to new CEO Sundar Pichai .

While overall, Alphabet has seen its market capitalization value reach $1 trillion, the "other bets" have been an expensive investment. Alphabet's most recent earnings report say that cumulatively, all of these companies together brought in $172 million over the last holiday quarter. That's not only small compared to search -- it's just 1% of Google revenue -- but it also came at an operating cost of over $2 billion.

Spokespeople would not comment on the future of Alphabet or other division in it, but confirmed to The Information that Jigsaw was now under Google operational control. Jigsaw CEO Jared Cohen continues to lead the division, which is still to work as an independent company.

In 2010, Cohen and then-CEO Eric Schmidt created Jigsaw, originally known as Google Ideas. Their aim was to combat disinformation, including a plan to end censorship within a decade.

Alphabet's "other bets" also include self-driving car firm Waymo, health outfit Calico, and artificial intelligence company DeepMind Technologies.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 30
    godofbiscuitsgodofbiscuits Posts: 249member
    Alphabet is going to turn out to have been a PR move more than anything: to give Google some headroom to make it seem like there could be independence for other businesses, snd for Google not to be tainted if those businesses ended up doing shady shit. 

    It’ll all have been a temporary thing. 
    razorpithammeroftruthcornchipStrangeDayscat52dysamoriawatto_cobra
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  • Reply 2 of 30
    Beatsbeats Posts: 3,073member
    Is it possible this scumbag company lost money forming "Alphabet"?
    cy_starkmanrazorpitcat52watto_cobra
     4Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 3 of 30
    stanthemanstantheman Posts: 332member
    The Google Boys had one profitable idea: search. All of their other ideas generated $172 million in quarterly revenue at a cost of $2+ billion. If Google were unable to track the online activity of ordinary citizens and sell ads using their personal data, that one idea may not be profitable, either.
    BeatswonkothesaneredgeminipaMacProcornchipcat52dysamoriawatto_cobra
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  • Reply 4 of 30
    Beatsbeats Posts: 3,073member
    stantheman said:
    The Google Boys had one profitable idea: search. All of their other ideas generated $172 million in quarterly revenue at a cost of $2+ billion. If Google were unable to track the online activity of ordinary citizens and sell ads using their personal data, that one idea may not be profitable, either.

    Which is why Apple should have killed them with iAd.
    razorpitcat52watto_cobra
     3Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 5 of 30
    Rayz2016rayz2016 Posts: 6,957member
    Beats said:
    stantheman said:
    The Google Boys had one profitable idea: search. All of their other ideas generated $172 million in quarterly revenue at a cost of $2+ billion. If Google were unable to track the online activity of ordinary citizens and sell ads using their personal data, that one idea may not be profitable, either.

    Which is why Apple should have killed them with iAd.

    We have to let go of this notion that for Apple to win, Microsoft has to lose.

    I think the same applies to Google.
    muthuk_vanalingamdysamoriaFileMakerFellerwatto_cobra
     4Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 6 of 30
    cy_starkmancy_starkman Posts: 653member
    Beats said:
    stantheman said:
    The Google Boys had one profitable idea: search. All of their other ideas generated $172 million in quarterly revenue at a cost of $2+ billion. If Google were unable to track the online activity of ordinary citizens and sell ads using their personal data, that one idea may not be profitable, either.

    Which is why Apple should have killed them with iAd.
    that was never possible. Apple would never have approved all the spam, malware, scams, hate, violence, child grooming, porn and use of morally questionable keyword linking required to have taken Google’s biggest customers from them.
    redgeminipamwhitestanthemancornchipcat52dysamoriawatto_cobra
     7Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 7 of 30
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,733member
    Beats said:
    The Google Boys had one profitable idea: search. All of their other ideas generated $172 million in quarterly revenue at a cost of $2+ billion. If Google were unable to track the online activity of ordinary citizens and sell ads using their personal data, that one idea may not be profitable, either.

    Which is why Apple should have killed them with iAd.
    that was never possible. Apple would never have approved all the spam, malware, scams, hate, violence, child grooming, porn and use of morally questionable keyword linking required to have taken Google’s biggest customers from them.
    LOL.... Hate much? Such weird claims. 

    Welcome to the internet. Google didn't design it, Apple can't control it, and Microsoft cannot hold the door key. We are the problem not some faceless company. Look in the mirror instead. Dealing with hate and morally questionable practices begins with you and yours. 
    edited February 2020
    FileMakerFeller
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 8 of 30
    cy_starkmancy_starkman Posts: 653member
    godofbiscuits said:
    Alphabet is going to turn out to have been a PR move more than anything: to give Google some headroom to make it seem like there could be independence for other businesses, snd for Google not to be tainted if those businesses ended up doing shady shit. 

    It’ll all have been a temporary thing. 
    more like forming alphabet and having eric, larry and serge scuttle away from google was to avoid any of them ever being charged for the vast shady venture that Google was designed to be to make most of its cash and for most purposes except where it has been called out still is.
    redgeminiparazorpithammeroftruthcat52watto_cobra
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  • Reply 9 of 30
    rotateleftbyterotateleftbyte Posts: 1,635member
    Beats said:
    Is it possible this scumbag company lost money forming "Alphabet"?
    I really, really hope they lost a packet.
    I'll be one of the first to start cheering if they decided to close everything down tomorrow.
    If you want me to use them again then go back to the days of 'Do No Evil'. You, yes you Google know what you need to do but you won't do it OR will you?
    cat52watto_cobra
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  • Reply 10 of 30
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,733member
    rotateleftbyte said:
    Beats said:
    Is it possible this scumbag company lost money forming "Alphabet"?
    I really, really hope they lost a packet.
    I'll be one of the first to start cheering if they decided to close everything down tomorrow.
    If you want me to use them again then go back to the days of 'Do No Evil'. You, yes you Google know what you need to do but you won't do it OR will you?
    A bit more specifically what do they need to do?
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 11 of 30
    MacPromacpro Posts: 19,873member
    gatorguy said:
    Beats said:
    The Google Boys had one profitable idea: search. All of their other ideas generated $172 million in quarterly revenue at a cost of $2+ billion. If Google were unable to track the online activity of ordinary citizens and sell ads using their personal data, that one idea may not be profitable, either.

    Which is why Apple should have killed them with iAd.
    that was never possible. Apple would never have approved all the spam, malware, scams, hate, violence, child grooming, porn and use of morally questionable keyword linking required to have taken Google’s biggest customers from them.
    LOL.... Hate much? Such weird claims. 

    Welcome to the internet. Google didn't design it, Apple can't control it, and Microsoft cannot hold the door key. We are the problem not some faceless company. Look in the mirror instead. Dealing with hate and morally questionable practices begins with you and yours. 
    Sadly the average 'we' are gullible and trust where they shouldn't, especially on the internet.  Google and FaceBook are poster children for taking advantage of that.  Blaming 'we' reminds me of another populist meme about 'what or who is the problem.'
    edited February 2020
    thtcornchipStrangeDayswatto_cobra
     4Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 12 of 30
    MacPromacpro Posts: 19,873member
    The Google Boys had one profitable idea: search. All of their other ideas generated $172 million in quarterly revenue at a cost of $2+ billion. If Google were unable to track the online activity of ordinary citizens and sell ads using their personal data, that one idea may not be profitable, either.
    Wow, is that really true?  The only profitable leg of the Google empire is search? If so that's one hell of a market cap for a one trick pony!
    edited February 2020
    cat52watto_cobra
     2Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 13 of 30
    hammeroftruthhammeroftruth Posts: 1,381member
    Nice tax dodge!
    It also helps to keep the feds away in case of any anti-trust issues.
    Plus it’s a good way to embezzle money. 
    Create a new spin-off company that loses money with bogus expenses. 
    cat52watto_cobra
     2Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 14 of 30
    cornchipcornchip Posts: 1,954member
    MacPro said:
    The Google Boys had one profitable idea: search. All of their other ideas generated $172 million in quarterly revenue at a cost of $2+ billion. If Google were unable to track the online activity of ordinary citizens and sell ads using their personal data, that one idea may not be profitable, either.
    Wow, is that really true?  The only profitable leg of the Google empire is search? If so that's one hell of a market cap for a one trick pony!
    Probably. I guess YouTube is profitable? 
    watto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 15 of 30
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,733member
    cornchip said:
    MacPro said:
    The Google Boys had one profitable idea: search. All of their other ideas generated $172 million in quarterly revenue at a cost of $2+ billion. If Google were unable to track the online activity of ordinary citizens and sell ads using their personal data, that one idea may not be profitable, either.
    Wow, is that really true?  The only profitable leg of the Google empire is search? If so that's one hell of a market cap for a one trick pony!
    Probably. I guess YouTube is profitable? 
    Very. So are cloud services. I think one of the Alphabets, perhaps a medical one, is also at the point of breakeven or very slightly profitable but not entirely certain. I'm not a stockholder so I don't pay a lot of attention to the details in the reported numbers. 
    muthuk_vanalingam
     0Likes 0Dislikes 1Informative
  • Reply 16 of 30
    Wgkruegerwgkrueger Posts: 352member
    gatorguy said:
    Beats said:
    The Google Boys had one profitable idea: search. All of their other ideas generated $172 million in quarterly revenue at a cost of $2+ billion. If Google were unable to track the online activity of ordinary citizens and sell ads using their personal data, that one idea may not be profitable, either.

    Which is why Apple should have killed them with iAd.
    that was never possible. Apple would never have approved all the spam, malware, scams, hate, violence, child grooming, porn and use of morally questionable keyword linking required to have taken Google’s biggest customers from them.
    LOL.... Hate much? Such weird claims. 

    Welcome to the internet. Google didn't design it, Apple can't control it, and Microsoft cannot hold the door key. We are the problem not some faceless company. Look in the mirror instead. Dealing with hate and morally questionable practices begins with you and yours. 
    Sounds like we need close government monitoring of our citizens then. 
    watto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 17 of 30
    razorpitrazorpit Posts: 1,796member
    cornchip said:
    MacPro said:
    The Google Boys had one profitable idea: search. All of their other ideas generated $172 million in quarterly revenue at a cost of $2+ billion. If Google were unable to track the online activity of ordinary citizens and sell ads using their personal data, that one idea may not be profitable, either.
    Wow, is that really true?  The only profitable leg of the Google empire is search? If so that's one hell of a market cap for a one trick pony!
    Probably. I guess YouTube is profitable? 
    Not if you are a good accountant.  ;)
    cat52dysamoriawatto_cobra
     3Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 18 of 30
    StrangeDaysstrangedays Posts: 13,172member
    If YouTube is profitable it’s for the same reason search is — ads. Still a one-trick pony when it comes to revenue. Funny people whine about Apple being overly dependent on iPhone revenue, but don’t sweat it with Google and ad revenue. 
    watto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 19 of 30
    entropysentropys Posts: 4,431member
    I come to google threads to see what Gatorguy says to defend it.
    cat52FileMakerFellerwatto_cobra
     3Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 20 of 30
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,733member
    entropys said:
    I come to google threads to see what Gatorguy says to defend it.
    Inform, not defend. When they're wrong they're wrong. 


    But any reason for you to spend time on Appleinsider is a good reason. Glad I can be of help. :)
    edited February 2020
    FileMakerFeller
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