That’s a pretty uncharitable way of describing all of Google’s software. There’s a lot more to Google than just the YouTube ranking algorithm, if that’s what you’re referring to.
It’s also not in the least different from pre-pandemic, and there wasn’t much of a retention problem then, either, as far as I know.
There’s also plenty of offices in places that don’t have the very highest cost of living, and Google committed to expanding those as well.
You must live somewhere with the highest cost of living.
Working on software that intentionally isolates and manipulates people
And now you don't even get to work from your overpriced home.
I'm sure there won't be a retention problem,