Google's ‘firebombs' have set off two races that are reshaping AI

Its integration of Gemini with old services and leaps of hardware have reset the dynamics of rivalry

- NILESH JASANI

It was a far better thing that Google did than it had ever done. So might future historians write of the moment this tech behemoth, long criticized for a lack of singular focus, quietly ignited two existential contests to reshape the tech landscape in 2026 and beyond.

These are the Two Races of 2026, officially declared not by proclamation, but by two ‘firebombs’ thrown by Google. They target two tech giants that appeared almost unassailable till recently: the king of frontier AI models and the monarch of AI hardware. The ensuing battles for intelligence supremacy and silicon sovereignty are now the true market drivers, overshadowing the usual concerns about an AI market bubble or cyclical demand.

Google vs the frontier-model king: The target of Google’s first firebomb is the ecosystem of closed proprietary AI models led by Open AI. Just a few quarters ago, the latter was celebrated for its breathtaking growth and ability to take on the reigning champ of search. Yet, with a single act of execution, Google has changed the competitive dynamic.