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Every large tech company has very diverse interests. I mean even Microsoft doesn't just make Windows, they bought minecraft. They all know that technology chang
by Houshalter 9y ago
Every large tech company has very diverse interests. I mean even Microsoft doesn't just make Windows, they bought minecraft. They all know that technology changes quickly and tech companies can die overnight. Most don't even do what they started as - IBM doesn't make punch card tabulating machines, apple makes phones now, and Google does tons of stuff other than search. Imagine if Adblock became ubiquitous, Google's advertising business would be fucked. But many of their investments could adapt and live on.
I makes perfect sense for Google to invest in robotics. They are already heavily invested in AI which will benefit robotics immensely. And with the coming robotics revolution, whatever companies get in early stand to make billions.
- throwaway-1209 9y agoNo, they could not "adapt". Ballmer's "one trick pony" comment is as true today as it was years ago. They derive the vast majority (90%+ iirc) of their revenue from ads. If ads are fucked, Google will be fucked too.
- munificent 9y agoIf ads are fucked, entire segments of the modern world economy are fucked.
- throwaway-1209 9y agoThe economy will be fine. Maybe even better than before. People will just figure out how to charge for content on the internet, and everyone will be all right.
- Houshalter 9y agoI believe they now make a ton from Android, especially app sales. But regardless they could still adapt by adopting a subscription model for search, youtube, gmail, etc. Ads just happen to be the best way of monetizing those services today.
- throwaway-1209 9y agoNot if others are willing to offer worse versions of those services for free. And Microsoft/Amazon are perfectly willing, since they're already getting paid for other things.