They live by the mantra 'don't be evil', but I'm starting to think the Google boys are so omnipotent we won't be able to stop them if they change their minds.

Consider what they've been up to recently:

This past week the company flicked the switch on a new social networking tool called Buzz. Similar in concept to Facebook and Twitter, it allows the exchange of information between you and contacts in your Google Gmail account.

While the launch generated a lot of angst among Gmail users concerned about their privacy, Buzz will doubtlessly become a popular service for millions of people.

Then, there was another announcement that Google has plans to roll out a high-speed fibre-optic network in selected US cities that will provide gigabit-per-second connection speeds to the internet. Impressive stuff.

Also, there was the launch of the Nexus One smartphone. Designed by Google and running its Android operating system, it represents the company's first foray into the hardware arena.

Meanwhile they've been trying to digitise every book ever written and make them instantly searchable. They're also offering themselves as an online storage service for our digital lives through an extension to Google Docs.

Naturally, we can't forget the Google Reader service that brings a tailored version of the web to you, as well as Google News that tells you what's happening around the planet.

But the announcement that finally had me wondering whether they might be getting just a little too big involved a decision to allow Google to become an electricity trader.

The decision by the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission allows Google to buy and sell power as if it were a utility.

So, conceivably you'll be able to use Google-sold power to run a PC that's connected to a Google high-speed internet connection.

From there you'll be able to use Google Docs to write a novel that will then be scanned by Google and made available via its search engine.

Then you'll be able to use your Google phone to call your friends (who by then will have Google Voice services) and tell them about it. Suitably excited, they will discuss the book further using Buzz.

Is it just me or is Google getting just a tiny bit scary?