"Father of the Internet" Cerf to Retire from Google

Vinton Cerf, known as a co-developer of the communication protocol that forms the foundation of the Internet, will soon step down as Chief Internet Evangelist at Google. This position is responsible for promoting and raising awareness about the Internet, and Cerf has long been the face of this role at Google.

Cerf is widely known for designing the communication protocol called "TCP/IP" together with Robert Kahn in the 1970s. TCP/IP is a common set of rules that allows different computers to exchange data, and today's entire Internet is built upon this system. Because of this achievement, Cerf became known as one of the "Fathers of the Internet."

Google brought Cerf on board as Chief Internet Evangelist around 2005, and since then he has continued to speak about the importance and significance of the Internet at various locations around the world. An evangelist refers to a person who takes on the role of promoting a specific technology or idea to society. From this position, Cerf reportedly collaborated extensively with governments, academic institutions, and international organizations.

The retirement is scheduled for next week, and it is positioned as a symbolic event marking the end of an era, as a leading figure of the generation that directly experienced the birth of the Internet steps back from the forefront. Cerf is already in his eighties, and this marks a conclusion to his long years of work at the frontlines.

The fact that Internet pioneers from the early days are successively retiring or changing positions suggests that generational change is now in full swing in the industry. The role of "promoting public awareness of the Internet itself," which Cerf has undertaken, continues to hold importance in the modern era where artificial intelligence and next-generation network technologies are advancing rapidly.

It remains unclear how Google will now hand over this position or whether it will redefine the role itself. In an era of technological transformation, the presence of communicators who convey the significance and applications of the Internet to society remains indispensable, and how the successor role develops is expected to be a point of focus going forward.