Google Cloud and Liberty Global just signed a five-year deal to change how millions of people in Europe use the internet and watch TV. Liberty Global owns some of the biggest telecom brands, including Virgin Media O2 in the UK, Sunrise in Switzerland, and VodafoneZiggo in the Netherlands. Now, they are bringing Google’s “Gemini” AI into their daily operations.
For the 80 million people who use these services, the most noticeable change will be on their television screens. Liberty Global plans to use Google’s AI to help customers find movies and shows more easily on its Horizon TV platform. The company also wants to use AI to automate customer service, which should help people get answers to their tech questions faster without waiting on hold.
The deal isn’t just about software. Liberty Global will also start selling more Google hardware. This means customers can expect to see more Pixel phones, smartwatches, and smart-home gadgets in their local mobile shops.
Behind the scenes, the partnership will help keep the internet running smoothly. The companies plan to use AI to monitor networks and fix problems before they cause outages. Interestingly, Google might even start using extra space in Liberty’s data centers to run its own cloud services. This helps Liberty make money from its empty space while giving Google more room to grow its tech empire.
Small businesses will also get a boost. The two companies plan to offer new AI and cybersecurity tools specifically designed for smaller shops and offices. Mike Fries, the CEO of Liberty Global, said this deal is a major step forward for his company. Tara Brady, a top executive at Google Cloud, added that they want to use technology to make life less complicated for their customers.
This partnership is part of a bigger trend. Phone and internet companies are spending billions to build fast fiber and 5G networks. To help pay for those upgrades, they are using AI to cut costs and find new ways to serve their users.
