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I find it fascinating that through the business lens, Google is competing with Facebook to sell more ads by going into low earth orbit. We didn't get flying car

I find it fascinating that through the business lens, Google is competing with Facebook to sell more ads by going into low earth orbit. We didn't get flying cars like they promised in the Jetsons, but that sounds pretty futuristic.

TeMPOraL 12y ago
While this is something Google earns most its money on, I don't think it's the sole reason for its actions, nor that it wants to stay in that business forever.
- JustinJBM 12y ago
  "Selling ads" puts it harshly, but it's entirely what this is about. More information, more organization, more people online, more ads :)
  - grey 12y ago
    I think Google has shown they're trying very hard to become a primary infrastructure host for any business in "The Cloud", getting more people online opens up new opportunities there too
  - nlh 12y ago
    Well, yes, but there's an argument to be made that while your cycle is certainly correct, the starting and ending points aren't necessarily fixed. Why not: More ads -> more $$ -> more information -> more organization -> more people online (and, thus, more freedom, more intelligence, etc.)
  - Florin_Andrei 12y ago
    > "Selling ads" puts it harshly, but it's entirely what this is about. By the same token, you're a machine that transforms food and oxygen into excrement and CO2. That puts it harshly, but it's entirely what this is about - if you judge things at that level. What I mean is - selling ads is what keeps their "corporate metabolism" going, but the actual long-term goals of the founders might be (and, indeed, are) very different from that most basic of all levels.
mbesto 12y ago
When your trying to grow you either make the glass bigger or add more water. By providing more internet to people who don't already today, you're simply making the glass bigger, which means more ads can be served up.
nl 12y ago
An alternative view is that "selling ads" is is just a means to an end. There seems to be plenty of evidence that Google's top leadership is more focused on finding alternate revenue streams that just "selling ads".
lochieferrier 12y ago
We did get flying cars. They just haven't delivered them yet.
YokoZar 12y ago
This is a bit like claiming that Google is investing in radical medical technology because people will watch more ads over their newly extended lifespans.
- lumpypua 12y ago
  And if the financial incentives lined up and they actually did extend lifespans, would that be a bad thing?

TeMPOraL 12y ago

While this is something Google earns most its money on, I don't think it's the sole reason for its actions, nor that it wants to stay in that business forever.

JustinJBM 12y ago
"Selling ads" puts it harshly, but it's entirely what this is about. More information, more organization, more people online, more ads :)
- grey 12y ago
  I think Google has shown they're trying very hard to become a primary infrastructure host for any business in "The Cloud", getting more people online opens up new opportunities there too
- nlh 12y ago
  Well, yes, but there's an argument to be made that while your cycle is certainly correct, the starting and ending points aren't necessarily fixed. Why not: More ads -> more $$ -> more information -> more organization -> more people online (and, thus, more freedom, more intelligence, etc.)
- Florin_Andrei 12y ago
  > "Selling ads" puts it harshly, but it's entirely what this is about. By the same token, you're a machine that transforms food and oxygen into excrement and CO2. That puts it harshly, but it's entirely what this is about - if you judge things at that level. What I mean is - selling ads is what keeps their "corporate metabolism" going, but the actual long-term goals of the founders might be (and, indeed, are) very different from that most basic of all levels.

mbesto 12y ago

When your trying to grow you either make the glass bigger or add more water. By providing more internet to people who don't already today, you're simply making the glass bigger, which means more ads can be served up.

nl 12y ago

An alternative view is that "selling ads" is is just a means to an end. There seems to be plenty of evidence that Google's top leadership is more focused on finding alternate revenue streams that just "selling ads".

lochieferrier 12y ago

We did get flying cars. They just haven't delivered them yet.

YokoZar 12y ago

This is a bit like claiming that Google is investing in radical medical technology because people will watch more ads over their newly extended lifespans.

lumpypua 12y ago
And if the financial incentives lined up and they actually did extend lifespans, would that be a bad thing?