In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has experienced significant advancements driven by large-scale language models. Although Google was one of the pioneers in the development of these technologies, it decided not to release its most advanced conversational systems to the public in their early stages. This article explains the context, the reasons behind this decision, and how it influenced the evolution of the market.

1. Google's Role in Fundamental AI Advances

In 2017, Google researchers presented the scientific paper “Attention Is All You Need”, where they introduced the Transformer model. This architecture significantly improved the speed and accuracy of natural language processing models, replacing previous structures like recurrent neural networks (RNNs).

The Transformer became the foundation of modern models like BERT, widely used in Google's search engine, and Gemini, one of the company's more recent systems. Additionally, technologies such as AlphaFold — capable of predicting protein structures — and Google's automatic translation systems have utilized this architecture since 2018.

2. Economic and Commercial Considerations

Despite its technical leadership, Google did not launch a conversational model similar to ChatGPT in the early years. One of the main reasons was the protection of its business model based on web searches and advertising.

A chatbot providing direct answers could reduce the number of clicks to external sites and, consequently, advertising revenue. According to former engineers and statements from experts like Geoffrey Hinton, this was a strategic decision aimed at maintaining the company's financial stability.

3. Microsoft's Bet and OpenAI's Advancement

While Google chose not to deploy its chatbots, Microsoft made a significant investment in OpenAI. This collaboration resulted in the launch of GPT-3 in 2020 and ChatGPT in 2022.

The integration of this technology into the Bing search engine represented an important shift in how users interacted with information online, transforming traditional searches into a more conversational and personalized experience.

4. Google's Response

In response to the rapid adoption of ChatGPT by the public, Google launched its own chatbot, Bard, in 2023. It subsequently introduced Gemini, an evolution of its conversational system. The rehiring of Noam Shazeer, one of the co-authors of the Transformer model, was also announced, with a significant investment after his departure to Character.AI.

These actions reflect a strategy to re-enter the conversational AI market with more developed products aligned with its internal policies.

5. Regulatory and Ethical Aspects

Google has been the subject of debate over certain changes in its ethical principles related to artificial intelligence. Some critics have pointed out the removal of restrictions on the military use of its technologies and decisions such as not allowing media to exclude its content from AI-generated summaries (AI Overviews).

These measures have prompted calls for greater transparency and regulation from civil organizations and technology experts.

Conclusion

The case of Google demonstrates that the development and deployment of artificial intelligence not only depends on technological advancements but also on strategic decisions associated with business models, reputation, and regulation. Although it was one of the pioneering companies in the field, its cautious approach allowed new players to enter the space who now lead the global conversation about AI.