WebP is basically a single i-frame from the WebM video codec, which literally was developed by Google to avoid paying license cost for H.264. For which they had great incentive.
WebP is to WebM what HEIC is to HEVC.
You can argue that using free codecs is a collateral benefit here, even though Google did it for selfish reasons. It is not detrimental to the public or the internet.
What Google pushes is in their self interest and has nothing to do with the good of the unwashed masses.