The search engine giant is yet again diversifying its products. Android Central announced that Google has co-created a startup that focuses on “developing innovative technologies to improve cities.”
The startup is called Sidewalk Labs, and Dan Doctoroff, former CEO of Bloomberg and Deputy Mayor of Economic Development and Rebuilding for the City of New York, will be its CEO.
"We are at the beginning of a historic transformation in cities,” Doctoroff said in a statement. “At a time when the concerns about urban equity, costs, health, and the environment are intensifying, unprecedented technological change is going to enable cities to be more efficient, responsive, flexible, and resilient. We hope that Sidewalk will play a major role in developing technology products, platforms, and advanced infrastructure that can be implemented at scale in cities around the world."
Google CEO Larry Page believes that focusing on innovation for cities is an opportunity to improve the lives of billions of people around the world.
“With Sidewalk, we want to supercharge existing efforts in areas such as housing, energy, transportation, and government to solve real problems that city-dwellers face every day,” Page said in a statement. “Every time I talk with Dan I feel an amazing sense of opportunity because of his passion for all the ways technology can help transform cities to be more livable, flexible and vibrant. And when you combine that with his experience as an investor, in NYC government, and as CEO of the large information company Bloomberg LP, I can't imagine a better person to lead these efforts."
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