The mysterious Google barge floating in the San Francisco Bay finally has a purpose, sort of.

According to the search giant, it's an"interactive space" intended to showcase Google's new technology.

"Google Barge … A floating data center? A wild party boat? A barge housing the last remaining dinosaur? Sadly, none of the above," a spokesman said in an emailed statement. "Although it's still early days and things may change, we're exploring using the barge as an interactive space where people can learn about new technology."

Google had no additional details about its new "interactive space," or timeline for when the barges may open to the public.

A similar structure appeared in Portland, Maine, prompting speculation that Google was pursuing a water-based data center since it has submitted a patent application for exactly that.

But local media reports said that the barge would actually be a floating showroom for Google Glass. Last week, San Francisco's KPIX 5 described the three-story boat as having "dazzling showrooms" and a "party deck," with "bars, lanais, and other comforts so Google can fete its upscale customers."

The barges have already made it to celebrity status, earning a dedicated Wikipedia page.

For more, check out a recent episode PCMag Live in the video below, which discusses the mystery Google barge.