After years of digital pranks published in honor of the first of April, Business Insider reported late last week that this year’s joke will be skipped due to the seriousness of the COVID-19 outbreak. In honor of the Google April Fool’s Day pranks, the 2020 iteration will be skipped due to the company’s focus on their COVID-19 efforts, we’re taking a look at some of the pranks Google pulled over the past five years.
2019
Last year’s April Fool’s, Google published a video introducing Google Tulip, an AI-powered flower that can translate words from tulip language (“Tulipish”) to a handful of human languages.
2018
Two years ago, Google Israel announced the Google Cloud Hummus API, a tool that uses AI to find the hummus dish perfectly matched to each person’s individual tastes.
2017
In 2017, Google Netherlands announced Google Wind. Because it rains so much in Holland, this technology would uniformly control windmills in the country to blow away clouds before they start sprinkling water.
2016
In 2016, Google Japan announced Furikku, a keyboard that lets users flick the keys instead of press them.
2015
Finally, a half a decade ago, the company announced the Smartbox by Inbox, a smart mailbox for the outside of your home that’s temperature-controlled and tablet-equipped and can open at the wave of a hand.
This article was first published by AFP Relaxnews.
