Google Cloud Next Conference Highlights
Introduction
Google held its Google Cloud Next conference in Las Vegas this week, where it announced numerous new features, including its next-generation AI processing chip, Ironwood, and its latest AI model, Gemini 2.5 Flash.
New AI Startups Join Google Cloud
Google Cloud has announced that several AI startups have signed up to use its cloud services. These startups include:
Anysphere
- Cursor: Anysphere’s AI-powered code editor, which is using Anthropic’s Claude models on Google Cloud. Cursor was recently valued at $10 billion.
- This makes Microsoft, through GitHub CoPilot, one of its top competitors.
Hebbia
- Hebbia uses AI to search large documents and answer questions, making it a hit in the legal industry. It has received funding from Andreessen Horowitz, Index Ventures, Google Ventures, and Peter Thiel, and is using Google’s Gemini models.
Magic
- Magic is building frontier models to automate coding as well as research. Its choice of Google Cloud is not surprising, given that its 2024 $320 million fundraising round included Alphabet’s CapitalG and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt as investors. It’s tapping Google Cloud for GPUs.
Physical Intelligence
- Physical Intelligence is working on developing foundational software for robots and has a who’s-who roster of co-founders, including solo investor extraordinaire Lachy Groom. It raised $400 million at a $2 billion pre-money valuation in November from backers including Sequoia, Jeff Bezos, Lux Capital, and Thrive Capital. A few of its founders have deep ties to Google, having previously worked at Google DeepMind, including Karol Hausman and Chelsea Finn.
Photoroom
- Photoroom is one of the hottest AI startups in Paris, Europe’s center of AI. It offers AI photo editing and is using Google Cloud’s Veo 2 video generating model and its text-to-image model Imagen 3.
Synthesia
- Synthesia is building products that make highly realistic AI avatars and is using various Google models. It raised $180 million at a $2.1 billion round in January led by NEA but with GV (formerly known as Google Ventures) among the investors.
Additional Partnerships and Offerings
Google Cloud has also added Lightspeed to its list of VC partners, along with Sequoia and Y Combinator. This partnership grants portfolio companies from these investors access to Google Cloud’s AI chips and models. Lightspeed’s AI portfolio companies can qualify for $150,000 in cloud credits, a move that’s likely to convince more startups to join Google Cloud.
Conclusion
Google Cloud’s latest announcements demonstrate its commitment to the AI space and its willingness to partner with top startups. With its new AI processing chip, Ironwood, and its latest AI model, Gemini 2.5 Flash, Google Cloud is well-equipped to compete with Microsoft Azure and AWS for AI workloads.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What is Google Cloud Next?
A: Google Cloud Next is a conference held by Google to announce new features and partnerships in the cloud computing space. - Q: What is Ironwood?
A: Ironwood is Google Cloud’s next-generation AI processing chip. - Q: What is Gemini 2.5 Flash?
A: Gemini 2.5 Flash is Google Cloud’s latest AI model. - Q: Which startups have partnered with Google Cloud?
A: The article lists several startups, including Anysphere, Hebbia, Magic, Physical Intelligence, Photoroom, and Synthesia. - Q: What are the benefits of partnering with Google Cloud?
A: Partnering with Google Cloud grants access to its AI chips and models, including GPUs and other resources.
