Last week we heard Larry Page had “lost his voice” and wouldn’t be talking at Google I/O 2012. The news was met with a few questions as to whether it was a real reason or if there was something more to the stories coming from Google. Well, maybe the answer is “IO12, It’s All About Sergey” … at least that’s what I now think. Maybe Larry is unwell, and if he is I wish him all the best, but given the rather great set of talks and keynotes from Sergey I do wonder.
Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, stepped down as leader of the company to allow Larry to come forward, it was “Larry’s time to shine”. However, with Larry nowhere to be found at Google IO 2012, Sergey parading Google Glass throughout IO and his amazing demonstration of Glass in the IO Keynote of Day 1 (click for video), IO 2012 has definitely been all about Sergey. Sergey, after stepping down from the lead, became head of “special products”.
Sergey burst onto the stage, interrupting vice-president of engineering Vic Gundotra to huge shock, and announced he had something amazing to show that needed perfect timing. He then proceeded with the awesome Google Glass stunt including skydivers, bikers, building runners and general excitement and danger. For the room and everyone watching, nothing announced before that mattered… that was THE MOMENT of IO 2012.
That moment signified one thing; this is Sergey’s world, it is growing and we are living in it.
Sergey has given some great talks at IO before and no doubt will again, but if Larry could speak with a bad throat he can’t now because this will have made him speechless too. The Sergey effect on a room is amazing, he is an awesome and enthusiastic orator, he has the crowd in his hand listening to every word as if it could be the last…he is amazing.
So IO12 is all about Sergey, and the future is about Sergey’s pet project Glass! Long live the Serg.
