launchpad keeps opening randomly

Launchpad keeps opening randomly on my MacBook Pro 16", 2019 MacOS Catalina 10.15.7. This started yesterday out of nowhere. I'm not accidentally hitting the key nor am I hitting the touchpad. It happens whether I use a wireless keyboard (mac) or the MacBook keypad. I have to hit esc to close it and it interrupts my work. It happens both when I am typing and when I'm not.

In System Preferences/Keyboard/Shortcuts/Launchpad & Dock Show Launchpad is NOT CHECKED. In System Preferences/Trackpad/More Gestures Launchpad (pinch with thumb and three fingers) is NOT CHECKED.

I removed the Launchpad icon from the Dock. But still it opens randomly. I have 43GB of 500GB of available storage on my computer.

I don't use Launchpad and will gladly get rid of it if it solves the problem.

Thanks for any help.