Richard Branson Reveals Shakespeare’s Influence on Google’s Creation

Today, we turn to Google for answers on virtually everything, from daily tips to educational queries. But have you ever wondered about its origins? Billionaire Richard Branson recently revealed that William Shakespeare significantly influenced the creation of Google.

Branson shared on LinkedIn that Google co-founder Sergey Brin credited Shakespeare as a major source of inspiration in establishing the tech giant. Richard Branson shared an intriguing anecdote about Google’s origins, revealing that William Shakespeare played a role in its creation.

Branson recounted how Sergey Brin, during a Virgin Voyages cruise, discussed how Shakespeare’s famous line “To be or not to be” inspired the need for a search engine that could handle all query variations.

He noted that the then-dominant search engine, Ask Jeeves, struggled with precise question formatting, leading Brin and Larry Page to develop Google’s more flexible algorithm.

Branson humorously mentioned his own extensive business ventures compared to Page’s singular focus on Google, reflecting on the value of turning frustration into innovative solutions.