20 Google Projects that Might Change the World

Updated on April 22nd, 2025 by Quertime Writer in Info & News

Google has begun a quest for technologies that could very well change the world and has its fingers crossed in building the new world of innovations. Besides Google’s core business of search and advertisement, the company also funds ambitious initiatives in AI, healthcare, quantum computing, sustainability, and space (among other areas). Some are next-generation projects, born out of organizations such as Google Research, DeepMind, and Alphabet’s X lab, and take on some of our most significant challenges.

Self-driving cars, healthcare affected by AI, and global internet access and breakthroughs in renewable energy – these are a few of the projects Google has planned for the future. Many of the proposed initiatives are in areas that can be considered as being at the cutting edge of technology, offering solutions that would transform industries and positively affect billions of lives.

Below is the list of 20 of the most impactful projects made by Google which are explored and discussed in depth here, including the way each of these innovations works and could potentially affect society. These innovations will certainly improve, and maybe even transform, our lives, careers, and ways of life on this planet in the future.

1. Google DeepMind

DeepMind is a cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) AI research lab belonging to Google, which works toward creating advanced functionality machine learning models. In 2014, DeepMind was acquired by Google, and its projects include AlphaGo, AlphaFold, and AI safety research. It focuses on deep reinforcement learning, inspired by neuroscience on AI, and large-scale problem solving. With innovations in healthcare, energy savings, and scientific discovery, DeepMind is working toward building ever greater and more beneficial AI systems.

2. Google Gemini

Google Gemini is an AI model that is built off of Google Bard, employing a combination of input sources, such as text, images, audio, and code, to enhance its reasoning and language understanding, thus improving its performance. Code completion and natural language generation can ease even more complex problem-solving processes and position it right at the top in terms of the major competitors of the OpenAI GPT series.

3. Google Quantum AI

The research undertaking, Google Quantum AI, is aimed at advancing Quantum computing technologies in order to use quantum mechanics in computations that cannot be achieved through any classical approach. This quantum computer got lots of attention from the general public when, in 2019, it showed its prowess by exhibiting quantum supremacy in a single day. This program seeks to explore the applications of physics, cryptography, and artificial intelligence toward creating a quantum computer that works well with a fault-tolerant approach that can revolutionize industries through vast computing power.

4. Project Taara

Project Taara is a Google X (Moonshot Factory) project that uses laser-beam technology to bring high-speed internet to the underserved. It is built to offer a minimum viable broadband to unserved and rural areas where traditional infrastructure with fiber optics is difficult. Taara leverages free-space optical communication (FSOC) for inter-building long-distance data delivery, making it a cost-effective, scalable alternative to common internet delivery methods especially in developing regions.

5. Google Brain

Google Brain is a deep learning artificial intelligence (AI) research group at Google AI, showing original invention in the areas of machine learning, neural networks and AI technologies. Founded in 2011, Google Brain aims at improving AI from the depths in natural language processing (NLP), computer vision, reinforcement learning and many other areas. The team is responsible for the production of TensorFlow, an open source deep learning framework that has been widely adopted. Google Brain has influenced a lot of research and their stuff has been leading projects in healthcare, robotics, automated driving etc. It advances the frontier of AI innovation while embedding it into Google products such as Search, Translate and Photos. Making machine learning more effective, allows developers from various fields; and businesses across the world.

6. Google Glass

Google Glass – AR wearable smart eyewear project from Google that will contain a wearable display. Launched in 2013, consumer-grade version allows quick access of information being voice-optimized and having a small display in the near eye of the user. Google Glass died with that consumer edition, but it can still be found in enterprise use cases – aiding industries like healthcare or manufacturing with the ability to stream data in real time and navigation/remote help.

7. The Self-Driving Car Project

Have you ever imagined yourself riding in a car and getting there? As soon as 2020, Google wants you to start thinking because they are going to make public use of the automated cars that are driven with no manual as you buckle up in some seat, choose your destination and don’t worry about anything. Google’s self-driving car is one of the biggest projects they are currently working on. Besides, it already ran tons of trials and experimenting with different prototypes and is thinking out aloud to reveal itself in the public.

8. Google Tango

It is one of the technical projects and will definitely take time, to grow, just an app like functionality inside a smart phone. This will detect the 3D scans of the environment automatically, so to say smartphone to correlate with real world and project its display on them. It can help people with disabilities get a look at what is going on around and how an area impacts them that they have never been in.

9. Project ARA

Originally a modular smartphone Project ARA was spearheaded by Google’s Advanced Technology & Projects (ATAP). Its goal was to make a phone that could be customized by the user, offering replaceable hardware modules where one does not need to upgrade the whole device (i.e. camera, battery, processor and processor) but rather individual components. The project claims higher sustainability and price competitiveness by lengthening the phone. Though there was considerable buzz and work in to Google shelved Project ARA in 2016 amid strategic reorientation. Though never marketed commercially, the idea has inspired modularity in smartphones like Moto Mods from Motorola, or the repairable design direction the Fairphone is taking.

10. Google Arts & Culture

Google Arts & Culture is a web portal that provides users worldwide to explore a large selection of artworks, cultural artifacts and historical exhibits from museums and institutions from all over the world. Created by Google, it is capable of doing virtual museum strolls, high-GHz art viewing, and whatnot such as AR and ARGB enhancements of AI possible experiences. Art movements and historical events in art that yield to detailed and interesting reports of the users give full exposure. Recreation tools such as “Art Selfie” and “Color Explorer” make it a fun platform as well. Google Arts & Culture covers a range of educational, inspirational and entertaining ways to explore global heritages from anywhere.

11. Google Makani

Google Makani was an initiative from the Alphabet X (formerly Google X) program that aimed for airborne wind turbine windmill development renewable energy as a project. Instead of conventional wind turbines, Makani had energy kites powered by autonomous rotors that worked to catch the higher-altitude wind and convert it directly to electricity (rather than over long distances with gearboxes). The ultra light and portable kites were intended to go where the stronger, steadier winds are located; improving efficiency per kWh produced and also decreasing costs, as well as environmental footprint. Google killed the Makani project in a formal manner in 2020 although its ideas hatched the path for renewable energy at the time. But the research of the company and their technological progress does impact renewable energy field along with future airborne wind energy systems.

12. Project Wing

Autonomous drone delivery project Google’s Project Wing – the innovation lab for Google (Alphabet) Background: Google Project Wing is an X, Google’s research arm developed autonomous delivery drone for last mile. Launched in 2014 Project Wing wants to change last mile delivery by UAVs, which are effectively fast, and cost effective, UAVs used to deliver goods quickly. Drones are being engineered for speedy sustainable shipping that carry the least burden on transportation traditionally. Project Wing conducted drone delivery flights in Australia and the U.S., including food drops for human consumption as well as for medical uses as well as delivery of consumer goods. The company is the first in 2019 to be FAA approved commercial drone delivery service in U.S. under the Wing brand Through AI and automation, Wing hopes to do better logistics, alleviate bottlenecks and enable access to necessities particularly for last-mile.

13. Project Loon

The governments are promising internet and WIFI in cities but Google is taking a completely different line. Project Loon has also begun sending internet balloons that it hopes will float in the stratosphere to beam internet signals down to earth, so basically internet from space satellites will be for real.

14. Google Fi

Google Fi is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) service by Google that provides unique options for versatile, cheap wireless plans. It uses a lot of networks (T-Mobiles and US Cellular) in the background seamlessly switching between several networks for best coverage. It has the pay as you go and unlimited voices plans with features like international coverage, Wi-Fi calling as well comes with an inbuilt VPN security too provided by Google Fi. It works on a lot of devices including some phones which are optimized for network switching so ideal for travelers and those that buy in quantity.

15. Google’s Intelligence

Google Intelligence is Google variety of AI tools and services which augment the user experience of all the products in their ecosystem. Built into Search, Assistant, Workspace and Android it harnesses machine learning and natural language processing for smarter automation powered recommendations in real time insights. Google uses AI models (eg: Gemini) to do the heavy lifting of features like AI summaries, predictive text and auto filled workflows. Driving productivity, accessibility & innovation across digital platforms, Google Intelligence is bleeding edge with advancements in Deep Learning.

16. Google’s Reverse Aging

Reverse Aging, under the umbrella of Google’s parent entity Alphabet and its biotech subsidiary Calico (short for Y Combinator Life Completion) with the stated goal of increasing the human healthy lifespan with age. Calico (started in 2013) works on genetics, cellular ageing and regenerative medicine —Calico is doing advanced research in partnership with major pharma companies like AbbVie. It uses AI and deep learning to find interventions that will help slow the aging process and increase lifespan. Despite the big part that breakthroughs take in it still experimental, Google’s research in reverse chronological aging demonstrates its dedication at changing healthcare and human longevity.

17. Space Elevators

There are unconfirmed reports that Google’s Space Elevators have been an obsession almost through Google X (the company’s mysterious experimental arms). A space elevator will a tether from earth to space, providing the lowest cost and most efficient means ever to access space. There is no plan, but it’s reported that Google have looked at how hard it would be to pull-off with materials like carbon nanotubes. Though the idea is still in theory mode for engineering reasons, Google interest somewhat matches up with the broader space ambitions of Google and futuristic transportation technology.

18. Test Tube Burger

Test Tube Burger Test Tube Burger Project is the world’s first lab grown beef burger, developed by scientist from the Netherlands Mark Post, 2013. Lab-grown technology as a seed, it was developed from muscle cells of cows created in a lab and not actually through traditional livestock farming. Project to transform food production — reduce environmental impact and animal suffering funded by Google co-founder Sergey Brin The method of cultivated meat is very expensive initially but advances in the field make lab meat an emerging sustainable food source.

19. Google Energy

Alphabet Inc – Google Energy ( subsidiary ) with renewable energy initiatives and cheap sustainable power sources Launched in 2009, creating an implicit way for Google to purchase/score clean energy such as wind and solar to run its data centers/operations. Has committed to sourcing 100% of its energy usage from renewable energy sources and has completed numerous green projects around the globe. Google Energy uses innovation in energy storage and efficiency to help drive global sustainability and lower the carbon impact of our massive technology infrastructure.

20. Project Starline

Google’s Project Starline works as an ultra realistic 3D telepresence technology that is competing with advanced video calls in development. Starline leverages the depth of AI, high resolution cameras and depth sensors with a light-field display for having remote conversations look like both parties are at the table. Building on top this technology enables a more realistic and natural experience in virtual meetings that have business, healthcare or remote collaboration potential.

21. Project Sunroof

Project Sunroof – google project to figure the amount of solar power that can be captured by rooftops of a home owner system It utilizes Google Maps data, machine learning and 3D modeling to determine direct sunlight, expected money savings from better efficiency and installation cost estimates this project demystifies the path to going solar, encouraging more clean energy adoption through tailored take solar advantages.

22. Project Jacquard

Smart textile technology Project Jacquard – a project by Google that adds interactive touch-sensitive fabric to clothing and garments. Designed by Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) team from Google, it allows to make gesture-controlled device interaction like you use music or answer phone call with the gesture on fabric. Used for fashion collaborations (think Levi’s smart jackets) it shows what connected wearables in daily life can look like.

Author: Adrine Santos

The guest post is contributed by Adrine Santos, who works at a technological firm working on various futuristic projects around the world in collaboration with others.