It is essentially Google which transforms the city of Zurich. The story begins in April 2004 when Urs Hölzle, number eight in the Google hierarchy, opens the first antenna of the Californian company. Himself Swiss, he persuades the management of Mountain View to install it in the city. A technological adventure begins.
Today, more than 5000 people work there, making it one of the first employers in the city. In addition, the practice of high wages (around 300,000 francs for engineers) places them clearly above those of the bank. But above all, they promote and influence innovation, way of life and the new intelligence of the territory.
Google: 20 years of conquest in Switzerland …
In 2006, Google bought the Lucerne company from Endoxon Geo-Données. This recovery forms the basis of many innovations on Google Maps. In 2010, it was “TrueView”, the video announcement format that users have the possibility of passing on YouTube – largely co -developed by Reto Strobl and his colleagues from Zurich. In 2016, the first research team on artificial intelligence (AI) of Google in Europe is created: the Department of R&D “Google Research Europe”, specializing in automatic learning.
In 2017, it is the turn of “Google Lens” capable of detecting, via its photo sensor, objects, buildings or even text. Other options such as showing opinions on the hotel opposite, indicate the name of a flower, translate the menu of a restaurant directly or give the name of a work of art appear. And in 2024, Google Gemini’s team presented the eponymous model of the most efficient AI of the firm.
… and an innovation engine for the Greater Area Zurich
Many former Google collaborators have founded their own start-ups in Switzerland. More than 120 companies were thus founded by them and have enabled the creation of more than 1,800 jobs.
Today, AI plays a decisive role in the economic development of the region. Joined by most American majors in the field, the metropolis is a real world hub. The Federal Polytechnic School of Zurich (EPFZ) is the pivot and plays a central role in the formation of this conquering elite.
In the broad sense, this has a positive economic effect because it is estimated that the use of generative AI can increase the annual domestic product of Switzerland by 80 to 85 billion francs (up to 11%) over the next ten years. This is what the results of the study commissioned this year indicate by Google (The economic potential of AI for Switzerland) which was supported by economiesuisse.
In French -speaking Switzerland, traders with maneuver
If we seek the equivalent of a social elite bearing the change or transformation of territories, we think of raw material traders in Geneva and around. International and numerous, they bring wealth and have already reversed the financial results of Geneva public accounts which becomes the first canton to contribute to financial equalization this year. The figures are positive, but they brought the accommodation into the bright red. Without real impact on thought and local activity, they seem to be like employees of International Geneva: above ground. Damage!
