@ErikJonker Yes EXACTLY...the TECHNOLOGY worked fine...just like Bard etc no doubt will. At no point have I indicated that I don't think they know how to build technology. They are highly capable technologists.
It's the ECONOMICS /marketplace that they never worked out, just like they doubtless have not worked out the economics of Bard before launching.
Google's organisational culture is to experiment and launch things on spec and see what happens, then retrench or discontinue when it doesnt.