Unprecedented Collaboration Amid COVID-19... Google CEO "Seeking Different Collaboration with Apple"

Following Joint Development of COVID-19 Case Tracking App, Exploring Other Collaborations
Google CEO Sundar Pichai: "I Regularly Meet with Tim Cook"
On User Consent Limitations: "Even 10-20% Participation Helps"

Sundar Pichai Google CEO

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] As Google and Apple have unveiled their COVID-19 exposure notification technology, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, stated that he is looking for another opportunity to collaborate with Apple.

In an interview with IT media Wired on the 22nd (local time), CEO Sundar Pichai said, "We are committed to finding another opportunity to collaborate with Apple," adding, "Apple's CEO Tim Cook feels the same way." He further remarked, "It is truly a good thing for large companies to collaborate for society."

CEO Sundar Pichai explained, "Both Google and Apple teams independently began developing technology to support health authorities in contact tracing," and "Both sides quickly recognized that for this system to work well, it must be available everywhere."

He also shared his thoughts, saying that he "regularly meets with CEO Tim Cook," and that "Google and Apple have partnerships in many areas, and I feel that the combination of Google and Apple is better than each of our individual efforts."

On the 20th (local time), Google and Apple released an API that notifies users of contact with COVID-19 infected individuals. This service uses Bluetooth technology to store data on who users have been in contact with and, in the event of a confirmed COVID-19 case, notifies contacts to encourage testing. This is the first time Google and Apple have collaborated on a public service. The API developed by both companies has been made available for official apps by organizations such as the WHO, and 22 governments are planning apps utilizing this technology. Google and Apple also proposed the use of this tracking technology to the Korean government, which stated it is reviewing whether the technology is suitable for domestic quarantine methods.

To verify contact with COVID-19 confirmed cases through the service developed by the two companies, user consent is required, leading to concerns that this clause might hinder contact tracing. In response, Sundar Pichai emphasized, "Even if only 10-20% of users participate, it will have a meaningful impact on mitigating COVID-19," and added, "We realized that we must guarantee users' privacy and strike a good balance."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.