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Facebook, Amazon, Google, IBM and Microsoft Create Partnership on AI

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Re: Facebook, Amazon, Google, IBM and Microsoft Create Partnership on AI

#81
post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why are you surprised that Apple isn't involved in a field that has no material impact on their business? Outside of Siri and related projects, I don't see where AI/machine learning has any immediate benefits. Twitter and Intel missing seems like something to take note of, but I didn't even think twice about Apple. I'm more surprised GE is missing than Apple.

I use Android, but Apple are doing some good personal assistant stuff like tagging friends in photos, -without- uploading them to the cloud. A true personal assistant that can use machine learning locally and with discretion sounds pretty great

I'm really starting to appreciate this kind of thing about Apple. They seem to be concerned about keeping data in the hands of their users as much as possible, when the rest of the industry defaults to a cloud-hosted solution that requires the user to completely give up control.

Re: Facebook, Amazon, Google, IBM and Microsoft Create Partnership on AI

#82
post #32
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple can't figure out that I don't want to say 'ducking' after hundreds of times of dismissing it with their keyboard. Siri never delivered on what was promised--part of the reason the microphone in the new wireless earbuds is so laughable. Apple currently has no answer to Allo or chat bots in general. >For example, see the article floating a few weeks ago on Medium (I think) on how Apple was embedding ML in everyth…

Uh, you're just making this up. You have no idea whether the "microphone" (by the way, for those who are not fact-averse, it's dual beam-forming mics) in the new wireless earbuds is "laughable". They aren't even released yet. You've never tried them. You have no idea whatsoever. By the way, it's actually very easy to teach Apple's devices the word "fucking". You haven't figured it out yet, but that doesn't make it Ap…

> dual beam-forming mics

What is a "beam-forming" microphone? Beam forming is a function of active RF elements. How is a sound-frequency receiver able to do it?

Re: Facebook, Amazon, Google, IBM and Microsoft Create Partnership on AI

#83
post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why are you surprised that Apple isn't involved in a field that has no material impact on their business? Outside of Siri and related projects, I don't see where AI/machine learning has any immediate benefits. Twitter and Intel missing seems like something to take note of, but I didn't even think twice about Apple. I'm more surprised GE is missing than Apple.

Because machine learning is one of the most important tricks they're going to be able to use to make their devices even more intuitively usable. There should be entire teams at Apple salivating at new ways to extend powerful functionality to users _without_ making the interface to do so gross and complicated. And they probably are -- they've acquired several ML startups lately. (Hi, Turi friends!)

[deleted]

Re: Facebook, Amazon, Google, IBM and Microsoft Create Partnership on AI

#84
post #63
post #49

>>"As of today’s launch, companies like Apple, Twitter, Intel and Baidu are missing from the group. Though Apple is said to be enthusiastic about the project, their absence is still notable because the company has fallen behind in artificial intelligence when compared to its rivals — many of which are part of this new group." It seems Apple's lack of engagement in the community [1] is really starting to hurt it. Did…

Whether right or wrong, I think it's good to keep in mind that Apple has, by far the highest quarterly profit and total asset value, compared to any of these companies - it really is a giant among giants. Alphabet certainly has an excellent future outlook (reflected in the markets), but its current financial state still pales in comparison to Apple. Taking this into account, I figure Apple thinks twice and thrice bef…

'it really is a giant among giants.'

You're confused. That would be Alphabet, not Apple. To put it in perspective for you, Google has:

~90% of the search market (https://www.statista.com/statistics/216573/worldwide-market-...)

~90% of the smartphone market (https://techcrunch.com/2016/08/18/gartner-androids-smartphon...)

~50% of the online advertisement market (http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Google-Still-Dominates-Worl...)

Hell, Google's staff meets with/at the White House more than once a week! (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3554953/Google-staff...)

I can think you can see the point I'm making: yes, Apple has a big pile of cash, a fat amount of profit and high stock value. However, Alphabet its influence and reach is far, far beyond that of Apple. Its just not as flashy & visible.

Don't agree? Let's imagine(!) two scenarios.

Scenario 1 - the US Government somehow figures out a way to force Apple to pay all its evaded taxes. Apple doesn't agree, and to make a point how important they are, killswitch everything. Results:

10% of the developed world can't use their phone anymore 10% of the developed world can't use their computer anymore An even smaller subset can't access their e-mail

Scenario 2 - the US Government somehow figures out a way to force Google to pay all its evaded taxes. Google doesn't agree, and to make a point how important they are, killswitch everything. Results:

90% of the developed world can't use their phone anymore 90%+ (Android owners + Gmail, Gcal etc. users) of the developed world can't access their e-mail, calendars, contacts etc. anymore ??% (decently high) of companies/universities can't access their e-mail, calendars etc., because Google Apps is down ??% has trouble navigating because Google Maps goes down (Other maps are still inaccurate and incomplete outside of the US) ??% of companies experience issues by Google Maps+API being down (Uber springs to mind)

Advertising also stops working and paying out (can be switched easily though, so not as critical)

Besides that, Alphabet is also involved in a number of moonshot projects. (Level 4) Self-driving cars. immortality research, AI research, LTE balloons, etc. etc.

The funny part is that I'm typing this on a 13" Retina MBP, with a iPhone 5S in my pocket. I'm by no means a Google fanboy. I love Apple's vertical integration, the amount of synergy and seamlessness their devices have, and that they're championing individual privacy. Also doesn't hurt that compared to Linux, OS X is a godsend to dev on.

I've done enough inebriated rambling so I'm gonna shut up now..

Still gave KAT owner's IP address and all his .icloud e-mails to the FBI without any resistance. WTF?

Re: Facebook, Amazon, Google, IBM and Microsoft Create Partnership on AI

#85
post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whether right or wrong, I think it's good to keep in mind that Apple has, by far the highest quarterly profit and total asset value, compared to any of these companies - it really is a giant among giants. Alphabet certainly has an excellent future outlook (reflected in the markets), but its current financial state still pales in comparison to Apple. Taking this into account, I figure Apple thinks twice and thrice bef…

'it really is a giant among giants.' You're confused. That would be Alphabet, not Apple. To put it in perspective for you, Google has: ~90% of the search market ( https://www.statista.com/statistics/216573/worldwide-market-... ) ~90% of the smartphone market ( https://techcrunch.com/2016/08/18/gartner-androids-smartphon... ) ~50% of the online advertisement market ( http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Google-Still-Domin…

I am sorry for the broken formatting of the scenario part but Hacker News its editing refuses to save my changes. Peace y'all!

Re: Facebook, Amazon, Google, IBM and Microsoft Create Partnership on AI

#86
post #49

>>"As of today’s launch, companies like Apple, Twitter, Intel and Baidu are missing from the group. Though Apple is said to be enthusiastic about the project, their absence is still notable because the company has fallen behind in artificial intelligence when compared to its rivals — many of which are part of this new group." It seems Apple's lack of engagement in the community [1] is really starting to hurt it. Did…

Why are you surprised that Apple isn't involved in a field that has no material impact on their business? Outside of Siri and related projects, I don't see where AI/machine learning has any immediate benefits. Twitter and Intel missing seems like something to take note of, but I didn't even think twice about Apple. I'm more surprised GE is missing than Apple.

I'm surprised at this "Apple not AI" narrative. I've had Google Maps & Waze on my iPhone for years and neither of them seamlessly turned on "where did I park my car" feature. I just turned my iPhone on one morning and it just told me. Now, mind you, this may not be a fancy deep learning model. It could be some simple linear model, maybe a tree model, hell, maybe it's hardcoded rules? But despite these things Apple delivered a great feature which is in the realm of what I would consider "AI enabled feature".

Mind you, I don't have an Android device, so maybe Google Maps does this automatically for you on Andriod. It doesn't do it on the iPhone, at least not automatically (aka. I don't bother to look it up, which is kind of the point).

Re: Facebook, Amazon, Google, IBM and Microsoft Create Partnership on AI

#87
post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also don't think of them as a straight technology company, but more of a best of breed product company focused on a great user experience. In that sense, high risk, long term investments that don't have an immediate application don't fit their profile.

> best of breed product company focused on a great user experience somehow i put them in the same category as LG, Samsung and Sony, albeit 100x better at what they do.

Apple's fastest growing revenue stream is services. It's already a 20 billion a year profit machine.

Re: Facebook, Amazon, Google, IBM and Microsoft Create Partnership on AI

#88
post #73
post #49

>>"As of today’s launch, companies like Apple, Twitter, Intel and Baidu are missing from the group. Though Apple is said to be enthusiastic about the project, their absence is still notable because the company has fallen behind in artificial intelligence when compared to its rivals — many of which are part of this new group." It seems Apple's lack of engagement in the community [1] is really starting to hurt it. Did…

It's just FUD. This whole thing is a boorish marketing exercise about throwing money about and which will go nowhere. That's why Apple is out. It doesn't waste it's money.

Really?

http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6251220/guy-osear...

Re: Facebook, Amazon, Google, IBM and Microsoft Create Partnership on AI

#89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why are you surprised that Apple isn't involved in a field that has no material impact on their business? Outside of Siri and related projects, I don't see where AI/machine learning has any immediate benefits. Twitter and Intel missing seems like something to take note of, but I didn't even think twice about Apple. I'm more surprised GE is missing than Apple.

I'm surprised at this "Apple not AI" narrative. I've had Google Maps & Waze on my iPhone for years and neither of them seamlessly turned on "where did I park my car" feature. I just turned my iPhone on one morning and it just told me. Now, mind you, this may not be a fancy deep learning model. It could be some simple linear model, maybe a tree model, hell, maybe it's hardcoded rules? But despite these things Apple de…

It's not Google Maps, but rather Google Now that has the "where did I park my car" for quite awhile (2.5 years) now:

https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/6015842?hl=en

Google Now generally seems to be where all that automated stuff goes, so if you don't use it that would explain why you don't see any of it.

Re: Facebook, Amazon, Google, IBM and Microsoft Create Partnership on AI

#90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why are you surprised that Apple isn't involved in a field that has no material impact on their business? Outside of Siri and related projects, I don't see where AI/machine learning has any immediate benefits. Twitter and Intel missing seems like something to take note of, but I didn't even think twice about Apple. I'm more surprised GE is missing than Apple.

I'm surprised at this "Apple not AI" narrative. I've had Google Maps & Waze on my iPhone for years and neither of them seamlessly turned on "where did I park my car" feature. I just turned my iPhone on one morning and it just told me. Now, mind you, this may not be a fancy deep learning model. It could be some simple linear model, maybe a tree model, hell, maybe it's hardcoded rules? But despite these things Apple de…

Google Now does this automaticly for a very long time. They don't have enough permissions on iOS, I suppose.

Cross referenced it, because Cortana can't do it in iOS for that reason

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