谷歌云的“逆袭”

Core Insights - Google Cloud is transforming from a long-term loss-making division of Alphabet into one of its fastest-growing engines, driven by the demand for AI infrastructure and services, with Q3 revenue growing 34% year-over-year to over $15 billion [1] - This growth is challenging YouTube's position and may become Alphabet's second-largest revenue source after search advertising [1] - Alphabet is willing to invest heavily in cloud infrastructure, raising its capital expenditure forecast to $91 billion to $93 billion, indicating a commitment to compete in a market dominated by Amazon and Microsoft [1] Strategic Shift and Culture Change - Under Thomas Kurian's leadership, Google Cloud has shifted from a struggling division to a competitive player by introducing financial discipline and a customer-centric sales model, referred to as a "non-Google" culture [2] - Kurian has opened new offices in lower-rent areas and restructured internal service contracts to cut costs, while also changing the sales strategy from volume-based to revenue-focused [2] - This transformation has led to a more competitive stance in the cloud market, with analysts noting a significant improvement in Google Cloud's competitive position compared to two to three years ago [2] AI Chip and External Collaborations - A key factor in Google Cloud's resurgence is the development of its AI chips (TPUs), which were previously used mainly internally but are now being offered to external companies [3] - Google Cloud has engaged with AI startups like Anthropic to test TPUs as alternatives to Nvidia GPUs, resulting in a significant multi-billion dollar deal [3] - Other AI developers, including Apple and Safe Superintelligence, have also adopted Alphabet's TPUs, enhancing Google Cloud's market presence [3] Costly Pursuit of Growth - Google Cloud's rise is reshaping the internal power dynamics within Alphabet, with Kurian gaining more influence in leadership meetings [4] - After years of losses from 2018 to 2022, Google Cloud achieved profitability in 2023, but the path to growth has been expensive, with capital expenditures being significantly increased to meet AI demands [5] - Alphabet's CEO Sundar Pichai has indicated that the company is committed to AI for the long term, despite concerns about a potential AI bubble [5]