[ryannielsen]

Ad clicks is the product, and not users' data.

Google's using data they aggregate about me to pick and choose which ads I should see, ideally optimizing for ones that I'll click on. Those clicks are sold to advertisers.

Google's selling our clicks to advertisers. We are the product they're selling.

[Johngibb]

Exactly. It's not a bad thing, it's a pretty fundamental basis of the Internet and the reason we get so much for free. At the end of the day it is still a win for consumers. I'm glad it works that way, since I'd rather view ads then pay a monthly subscription to Google (or would I? At least most people would).