Google Cloud Next 2026: TPU v8 and Gemini Enterprise

Honestly, after watching the Google Cloud Next 2026 keynote, my first thought was: Google finally gets it.

For years, Google’s AI strategy felt like waking up early but arriving late. They invented the Transformer architecture, yet OpenAI stole the spotlight with GPT.

TPU v8: Not Just a Chip Upgrade

Let’s start with the hardcore stuff: TPU v8. Google launched two variants: 8t for training, 8i for inference. The numbers are impressive: 40% lower inference costs, 50% better energy efficiency.

But that’s not the point. What really matters is the OCS optical circuit switch and memory pooling solution going into production.