We have a bunch of Google's previous future of communication (jamboard) which they eventually deprecated and now they don't work very well.

I simply don't understand who is letting folks at Google work on this and release products- it will never ever be profitable for them, and the ecosystem effects aren't that interesting.

Do they believe that this technology has the potential to be miniaturized enough to be used as webcams and phone front facing cameras? If this path is not clear I am unsure how the cost can be justified to the degree of calling it the "future of communication" at this point.

Incorrect. And hilarious that every fake marketing photo they use looks like your stereotypical movie prison visitor scene.