Google introduced Google Web Toolkit for building AJAX applications using Java.
Google Web Toolkit (GWT) is a Java software development framework that makes writing AJAX applications easy. With GWT, you can develop and debug AJAX applications in the Java language using the Java development tools of your choice. When you deploy your application to production, the GWT compiler translates your Java application to browser-compliant JavaScript and HTML.
You can download the GWT here. The FAQ is a good starting point. There is a GWT blog where you can track annoucements and provide feedback.
Google does things different. As many AJAX development environements and libraries are emerging, Google makes it easy for one of the largest communities of programmes to build rich interactive client applicaitons. The development forum is active. According to one programmer, this will revolutionalize web development. It certainly will.
I am sure you at Google understand the impact, but I want the others to appreciate it too. This will revolutionize web development, leaving all other platforms and companies far behind. Amazing idea, more strength to you.