Curious, Capable, Connected

A Message from Debbie Weinstein, President, Google EMEA. This article is from the FORWARD magazine #2.

September 2025 2 min read

Debbie Weinstein

President, EMEA

Growing up, my mom worked as a librarian at the local school. I can remember spending hours surrounded by books, learning about everything from different kinds of cats to how to make the best chocolate chip cookies. My brother and I were endlessly eager to learn, and our parents encouraged that curiosity as something worth nurturing. Access to information wasn’t just useful, it was essential.

Years later, when I moved into a leadership position at Google, I found myself surrounded by people who shared that same belief: that human curiosity is one of the most powerful forces for progress, and that making information universally accessible and useful is a mission worth pursuing. Curiosity, it turns out, is boundless. Every year we see over 5 trillion searches on Google — and every day, 15% of those searches are brand new: they’ve literally never been asked before. I find that incredible; that after more than 25 years of Search, people are still finding so many new questions to ask!

Today, we’re at the beginning of the most profound and exciting transformation of our lifetimes — the era of AI. It’s not just a technological shift; it’s a new way to ask and answer questions, discover ideas and solve problems. At Google, we’ve been building the infrastructure and innovations to support this shift for a decade and now we’re seeing the impact at scale: from faster scientific discovery and real-time crisis response to new AI-powered tools that are changing how we stream, search, scroll and shop.

For businesses, this is no longer a future conversation. AI is helping brands to keep up with humanity’s boundless curiosity and navigate a landscape that is predictably unpredictable. Whether it’s engaging with more precision; supporting the creation and production of content in a matter of minutes or hours; or making measurement and optimization possible in real time, companies that embrace this moment aren’t just adapting — they’re pulling ahead.

AI could boost the EU economy by €1.2 trillion within a decade — boosting European growth, innovation and competitiveness.

Debbie Weinstein, President, Google EMEA

As this shift continues, Google will remain a trusted partner for Europe. AI could boost the EU economy by €1.2 trillion within a decade — boosting European growth, innovation and competitiveness. We want to ensure that potential is realized: driving innovation responsibly and investing in people, researc, and partnerships that foster sustainable growth and shared success.

This issue of FORWARD explores how businesses and leaders across Europe are stepping into that future — boldly, responsibly, together. You’ll find stories of innovation, resilience and above all, curiosity. I hope you enjoy reading our second issue of FORWARD, and that it inspires you to ask: how might you embrace your own curiosity to discover what AI can help you achieve?

Yours,

Debbie Weinstein

President, EMEA

Photo: Google

FORWARD - European Perspectives on Tech & Society - No. 02 (EU)