You don’t really associate Google and Native Instruments very often, so I was surprised to see a story pop up on my Facebook newsfeed announcing that Google’s Executive Chairman (and former CEO), Eric Schmidt was visiting NI headquarters over in Berlin. Mr Schmidt looked like he was having fun trying out all the new shiny that NI have just released or announced, including the Maschine Studio, the Komplete MIDI keyboards and the Kontrol S8 (which must have still been warm out of the oven).
As soon as I saw the Facebook post, I sent it to Mark, asking what he thought it could mean, and if we should post something about it. His (expected) response was that we don’t comment on rumour and that was that.
Then this popped in our inbox…
Native Instruments hosts Google’s Eric Schmidt for a talk about ‘disruptive technology’
Berlin, October 15, 2014 – As part of his visit to the German capital, Google’s Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt stopped by the global headquarters of Native Instruments on Monday evening for a special event. In front of an audience of entrepreneurs, students and journalists, Eric Schmidt gave a speech about innovation, market disruption and the future of the Internet.
In his speech, Eric Schmidt acknowledged the unique appeal of Berlin as a hotbed of both technological and cultural innovation. Explaining why he had chosen the NI offices to present his thoughts, he referred to the shared mindset of both companies, and their similar approach in their respective industries. Acknowledging Native Instruments’ track record for innovation, Eric Schmidt stated that the company’s fusion of music and software “has revolutionized an industry”, from which “a whole new genre of music has emerged.” In turn, Daniel Haver in his welcome note recognized Google as “having created, more than nearly any other company, innovations that have profoundly changed everyone’s daily lives”, and that it was this same transformative vision that Native Instruments has always aspired to within the music technology domain.
Eric Schmidt also took great interest in the following first public demonstration of TRAKTOR KONTROL S8, Native Instruments’ new DJ controller that represents a paradigm shift by moving away from conventional jog wheels control. The guests of the event were also privy to artist performances featuring the recently launched KOMPLETE KONTROL keyboard series, which unites the power of the KOMPLETE software instruments range in a single dedicated instrument, and on MASCHINE STUDIO, the flagship product of the immensely successful groove production line.
Further photography and information
Additional photography (credit: Lars Hübner) from the event can be downloaded here:
www.native-instruments.com/press.info
The full transcript of Eric Schmidt’s speech can be found here:
http://googlepolicyeurope.blogspot.be/2014/10/the-new-grundergeist.html
My Take
There’s not much to say about this really, other than ask a simple question: Why would Google be visiting NI?
What do you think?