Google is very good at recognizing existential threats. iOS were that to them and they built Android, including hardware, a novelty for them, even faster than mobile incumbents at the time.
They're more than willing to expand their moat around AI even if that means multiple unprofitable business for years.
In tech, Android's acquisition by Google is ancient history. It has zero relevance to today's Google.
When was it, 2006? Almost 20 years ago, back when the company was young.
Mobile is still nearly everything. Google continues to develop and improve Android in substantial ways. Android is also counted on by numerous third-party OEMs.
This doesn’t strike me as zero relevance.
This thread was about new markets, having foresight, being able to build "new".
Android and mobile are none of these things.
* acquired Android
They acquired the Android company years before the iPhone existed.
It was supposed to be a BlackBerry/Blackjack killer at the time.
And then the iPhone was revealed and Google immediately changed Android’s direction to become a touch OS.