In a significant leap forward for artificial intelligence, Alphabet Inc. unveiled its latest innovations on April 9, 2025, showcasing both a powerful new AI chip and an enhanced research tool designed to streamline information synthesis for researchers and professionals alike. The company’s seventh-generation AI chip, named Ironwood, aims to enhance the performance of AI applications, while Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro model is set to challenge existing AI research tools with its Deep Research feature.
At a cloud conference, Google announced the Ironwood processor, engineered specifically for the type of rapid data processing required for AI applications, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT. This new chip is designed to operate efficiently in groups of up to 9,216 units, a configuration that allows for immense computational power. Amin Vahdat, a Google vice president, highlighted the growing significance of inference computing, stating, "It's just that the relative importance of inference is going up significantly." This suggests that as AI applications become more prevalent, the need for faster and more efficient processing will only increase.
The Ironwood chip boasts double the performance for the amount of energy compared to Google's previous Trillium chip, which was announced in 2024. This improvement is crucial for AI tasks that demand quick responses, especially in environments where efficiency and speed are paramount. Although the company did not disclose the specific manufacturer producing the Ironwood chip, its development represents a multi-billion dollar effort by Google to create a viable alternative to Nvidia's powerful AI processors.
Meanwhile, Google is also making waves with its Gemini 2.5 Pro model, which has garnered attention for its Deep Research feature. This tool is being marketed as a more accessible AI research assistant, potentially at a lower price point than competitors. Priced at $20 per month, the Gemini Advanced subscription allows users to perform up to 20 deep dives daily, significantly more than OpenAI’s offering, which limits many paid users to a small number of queries per month.
According to internal tests, users preferred Google’s results two-to-one over OpenAI’s, although such claims should be taken with caution, as company benchmarks often paint a rosier picture. The Deep Research feature is designed to assist in various tasks, from drafting competitive landscape analyses to summarizing recent patent filings. It can process information from numerous websites, providing organized and well-cited research outputs.
One notable aspect of Google’s Deep Research is its user-friendly interface. Unlike OpenAI’s tool, which offers a limited set of clarifying questions to align the research with user intent, Google’s approach is more hands-off. Users can either proceed with a default plan or tweak the parameters as needed. Additionally, the tool has a unique ‘Showing Thoughts’ feature, allowing users to see the steps taken during the research process, such as identifying the scope or brainstorming concepts.
For those who prefer audio content, Google’s Deep Research can generate an ‘Audio Overview,’ transforming text into a two-voiced podcast summary. This feature is powered by technology from Google’s NotebookLM, making it easier for users to digest complex information without having to read dense reports.
The simultaneous unveiling of the Ironwood chip and the Gemini 2.5 Pro model underscores Google’s commitment to advancing AI technology. As the demand for AI applications continues to grow, these innovations could play a crucial role in shaping the future of research and development across various industries.
In the stock market, Alphabet’s shares surged by 9.7% following the announcement, buoyed by positive investor sentiment toward the company’s ongoing advancements in AI technology. This surge coincided with a sudden reversal on tariffs announced by former President Donald Trump, which may have contributed to the stock’s upward trajectory.
As companies like Google and OpenAI continue to innovate in the AI space, the competition is likely to drive further advancements, benefitting researchers, developers, and end-users alike. The introduction of the Ironwood chip and the enhancements to the Gemini model signal a new era in AI capabilities, with the potential to democratize access to advanced research tools.
In conclusion, the recent developments from Google not only highlight the company’s technological prowess but also indicate a shift towards more accessible AI solutions. With tools like the Deep Research feature and the Ironwood chip, Google is positioning itself as a leader in the AI field, ready to meet the growing demands of users and researchers around the globe.
