What new product should Google invest in and why?

I understand the task and will provide a detailed, strategic answer to the question "What new product should Google invest in and why?" from the perspective of a seasoned VP of Product interviewing for a senior product leadership role. I'll structure my response according to the outlined steps and formatting instructions, maintaining a professional tone while demonstrating deep product thinking and leadership.

Introduction

The strategic problem at hand is to identify and justify a new product investment for Google. This decision is crucial for Google's continued growth, market leadership, and ability to create value for users and shareholders. My approach will involve a comprehensive analysis of market opportunities, alignment with Google's strengths, and potential for long-term impact.

To address this challenge, I'll follow these strategic steps:

1. Clarify the strategic goals
2. Conduct market and competitive analysis
3. Define product vision and roadmap
4. Prioritize strategic initiatives
5. Develop an execution plan and resource allocation strategy
6. Establish metrics and key performance indicators
7. Implement risk management and contingency planning

Let's begin by clarifying the strategic goals to ensure our product recommendation aligns with Google's overall objectives.

Step 1

Clarify the Strategic Goals (3-4 minutes)

To make an informed recommendation, we need to understand Google's current priorities and constraints. Here are the key areas I'd like to clarify:

• Primary Objective: What is Google's current focus—expanding into new markets, defending core businesses, or exploring future technologies?

• Product Lifecycle Stage: Are we looking to introduce a completely new product category or innovate within existing lines?

• Customer Segments: Which user groups or markets is Google particularly interested in growing or serving better?

• Market Context: What major technological or societal trends is Google aiming to address or capitalize on?

• Resource Constraints: Are there any specific limitations in terms of budget, talent, or technological capabilities we should be aware of?

These questions are crucial because they will shape our strategic approach. For the purpose of this exercise, I'll make the following assumptions:

• Google's primary objective is to expand into new markets while leveraging its core strengths in AI and data processing.
• We're looking to introduce a new product category that complements existing offerings.
• Google is interested in serving both consumer and enterprise markets, with a focus on emerging technologies.
• Key trends include the rise of AI, increasing concerns about data privacy, and the growing importance of sustainability.
• While Google has significant resources, we'll assume there's a preference for leveraging existing technological infrastructure.