Picking one free Google product to monetize directly and defending the choice

Imagine Google decides to start charging for one product it owns that it does not charge for today. Which product would you choose, and why? Explain how you compared the options and defend your choice, including the main risks of charging for it. ```hint Set the bar before naming products Write down what would make a product both worthwhile and safe for Google to charge for, from Google's point of view and the payer's, and test each candidate against that list. ``` ### Clarifying Questions - What is Google trying to achieve by charging: new revenue, less dependence on advertising, or covering the cost of serving the product? - May the product keep a free tier, so that "charging" means adding a paid offer, or must every user pay? - Can the payer be businesses, developers or device makers rather than consumers? - Are products Google already charges for in some form, such as through a premium tier, out of bounds? ### What a Strong Answer Covers - A stated objective and explicit criteria for choosing - Several candidate products compared on those criteria, including the effect on Google's advertising business - One product chosen, with who pays, what they pay for and roughly how much revenue is at stake - Risks to users, partners, regulators and Google's other products, with mitigations - How success would be measured after launch ### Follow-up Questions - If your pick were ruled out, what would be your second choice and why? - How would you test willingness to pay before charging everyone? - What evidence after launch would make you reverse the decision?