Great insight. Search used to seem such a fragile business, because where's the sustainable competitive advantage when there're no switching costs? When better search comes along, everyone switches!
But... unless the competitor is significantly superior, why switch? So Google just needs to be good enough such that no one is significantly superior in a way that makes a difference to users. If you're technically better, but it doesn't really help anyone, it doesn't harm Google.
But... unless the competitor is significantly superior, why switch? So Google just needs to be good enough such that no one is significantly superior in a way that makes a difference to users. If you're technically better, but it doesn't really help anyone, it doesn't harm Google.