[matt_attack]

If they knew most people would pick them, then why are they paying?

[bigyikes]

Most people would pick Google if there was no default option.

Most people don’t change the default option though. If Google didn’t (or couldn’t by law) pay such large sums, someone else (e.g. Bing) would pay a bit less and become the default. Even though most people prefer Google over Bing, there is still a significant incumbent advantage for being the default option.

[scarface74]

And because little old Microsoft couldn’t afford to pay Apple to be the default search engine?

[selectodude]

Well, no. They did pay to become the default and I guess it was a big enough hit to Google that Google opened the pocketbook.

https://appleinsider.com/articles/17/09/25/apple-switches-fr...

[eloisant]

To prevent their competitors for making deals to be the default.

[asdfasgasdgasdg]

Bingo. Google is less paying for default placement and more paying so that they aren’t locked out by default.

[utopcell]

Because Apple is extorting them.