Google, the Sleeping Giant in Global AI Race, Now ‘Fully Awake’

Since the launch of ChatGPT three years ago, analysts and technologists — even a Google engineer and the company’s former chief executive — have declared Google behind in the high-stakes race to develop artificial intelligence.

Not anymore.

The internet giant has released new AI software and struck deals, such as a chip tie-up with Anthropic PBC, that have reassured investors the company won’t easily lose to ChatGPT creator OpenAI and other rivals. Google’s newest multi-purpose model, Gemini 3, won immediate praise for its capabilities in reasoning and coding, as well as niche tasks that have tripped up AI chatbots. Google’s cloud business, once an also-ran, ...