Google has unveiled a special commemorative doodle on its homepage today. The nostalgia-inducing animated GIF showcases the evolution of Google’s logos, culminating in the current design with the ‘o’s replaced by the number ’25’. Established on September 27, 1998, Google Inc. traces its origins back to a meeting between doctoral students Sergey Brin and Larry Page during their time at Stanford University’s computer science programme in the late 1990s.

Their vision was clear: to enhance accessibility to the World Wide Web. Beginning their work from dorm rooms, they embarked on creating a superior search engine prototype. The initial stages of their endeavour were in dorm rooms, but they later transitioned to a rented garage, which marked the humble beginnings of Google’s first office.

Google-parent Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai tweeted on the new Doodle as well, thanking all the users who challenge the company to “keep innovating”.

While much has transformed since 1998, including the logo highlighted in today’s Doodle, the fundamental mission has remained constant: organising the world’s information and ensuring its universal accessibility and utility. Google has become an integral tool for billions worldwide, facilitating searches, connections, work, play, and more. The company expressed gratitude for the continuous evolution and eagerly anticipates the future’s collaborative journey.

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Fate or fortune intervened as doctoral candidates Sergey Brin and Larry Page crossed paths at Stanford University’s computer science programme in the late ’90s. Sharing a vision to improve the accessibility of the World Wide Web, they diligently worked from their dorms, creating a prototype for an advanced search engine. Progressing in their project, they transitioned to Google’s inaugural workspace — a rented garage. On September 27, 1998, Google Inc. was officially brought to life.

The concept of the doodle emerged from the founders’ desire to showcase their presence at the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert prior to the company’s inception. The first doodle was a playful stick figure positioned behind the second “o” in Google, humorously conveying the founders’ “out of office” status.