This is interesting because I think the opposite. What is amazing about Google seems to be their incredible ability to squander their lead in absolutely every area.

Maps used to be the absolute best and now I frequently get baffling driving directions in a US major metro area. No improvements within the last 10 years. New pixel phones are worse than latest Samsung. Some huge lead in AI absolutely totaled, their investment in anthropic their only hope. Inference HW accelerators that noone uses.

They are becoming like M$ - I expect M$ to be this terrible at product development - but at least M$ is fantastic at making money despite terrible products.

Google has allowed search experience to slide so much people would rather use some slow-ass unreliable chatbot. Are they really losing the war on SEO or have they decided that the internet-of-shit (i.e. affiliate marketing) is more valuable?