[ButyTh0]

Rather than just use an email solution Google built GMail into a massive email solution despite it not being a core product

Sometimes that's just an opportunity

[jdmichal]

> ... not being a core product

Technically true, because Google's core product is ads. Also fundamentally wrong, because Gmail serves as a massive source of ad targeting information, in addition to being a high-engagement canvas to display those ads.

[exi2]

Google has not been scanning gmail mails for ad targeting since 2017. I think after 9 years we can finally let that one go.

Ad display I'll still grant you of course.

[vinckr]

I don't think we can let that one go so easily, since they might not be scanning for ad targeting (pinky promise?) - but they most certainly will slurp everything up for their AI stuff: https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/gmail/gm...

[ButyTh0]

Sure, now it is.

It was an unproven long shot when they built it.