>For example, Google has been working on diversification for years, among other things, so why would one assume everything is tied to ads? OK, well, broadly sp

>For example, Google has been working on diversification for years, among other things, so why would one assume everything is tied to ads? OK, well, broadly speaking, Google like all organizations wants to grow. The best source of growth is increasing revenue stream. Advertising, in turn, was 96% of their revenue in ~2012^1. They're going to try to find other revenue streams. But advertising is clearly not going anywhere. We're still figuring out how advertising is going to keep working. And honestly, advertising is huge money and is what is driving the fierce battle over mobile at the moment. Here we have what is possibly the last great expansion of fresh eyeballs, and it is crucial for the existing companies to figure out how to serve them ads. Hence Android and the WhatsApp purchase. So. If you have a feature that in any way can improve upon 96% of their business, that glove will probably fit. I mean, I doubt Google Cars is seriously so they can show commuters more ads. They have a deep capacity for machine learning, and they bought Boston Dynamics; I'm sure we'll see lots more Google automation in the coming years. [1]: http://venturebeat.com/2012/01/29/google-advertising/ http://venturebeat.com/2012/01/29/google-advertising/