I mean, they hired the best people. Google just weren’t able to provide an environment where the best people were able to turn their ideas into products.
a competitive system of graduate school where some number of people are assigned a ranking number upon completion of the studies != "best people"
the most US dollars per year with maximum total compensation != "best environment"
this is not only annoying, but creates an echo chamber among management, investors and lots of classes of "camp followers" that assume these numbers are actually the goal.
building companies to maximize Total Compensation and Total Return on Investment are exactly the root of unending race to the bottom consumer practices, addictive content and dark pattern customer services.
$0.02
1) They exhibit an exceptionally risk-averse stance from a legal standpoint. Consequently, matters with even the slightest chance of legal repercussions (usually revolving around privacy) undergo an exhaustive examination that can take years. Often things get killed just because of the spectre of legal/privacy review.
2) Gaining unanimous agreement within the company for a particular course of action, especially necessary for projects demanding substantial resources, can truly be likened to an arduous Sisyphean endeavor.
3) Anything that doesn't immediately and unequivocally exhibit the potential to evolve into a multi-billion dollar industry is met with significant doubt.