I froze for a second because picking something too obscure feels like a cop-out but picking something big feels risky.
Choose a product that is either underperforming, misaligned with Google's strategic priorities, or facing significant ethical or regulatory challenges. Frame your answer around a clear product evaluation framework, such as impact on users, business value, and strategic fit, and propose a thoughtful alternative or transition plan. Demonstrate empathy for users and awareness of Google's broader ecosystem.
Pro tip: Avoid picking a core product like Search or YouTube; instead, target a peripheral or declining product and show how shutting it down could free up resources for higher-impact initiatives. Acknowledge the human impact and suggest a responsible sunsetting process.
Outline the criteria you would use to assess a product's viability, such as user impact, revenue, strategic alignment, and ethical considerations.
Choose a specific Google product that scores poorly on your criteria, and briefly justify your choice with data or reasoning.
Discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of shutting it down, including effects on users, the ecosystem, and Google's reputation.
Suggest how to mitigate negative impacts, such as migrating users to alternative products or open-sourcing the technology.
Tie your decision back to Google's mission and long-term goals, showing how reallocating resources could drive innovation.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.