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Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI

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Re: Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI

#21

Post by uoaei »

AussieWog93 wrote: post #9
smabie wrote: post #3

So it'll only show walking directions?

I get that you're being flippant, but I did have a coworker who calculated the carbon footprint of his commute for various modes of transport, including walking. He came to the conclusion that, given the average amount of CO2 produced per calorie consumed, riding an e-bike was actually the lowest-impact way.

Does this factor in battery manufacturing / vehicle body manufacturing / varying gas efficiencies / etc.?

The question is borne of the understanding that electric vehicles merely frontload your carbon footprint, rather than eliminating it.

Re: Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI

#23

Post by Lucasoato »

gtirloni wrote: post #7
tehjoker wrote: post #5

Google greenwashing what is clearly a demonstration of its power to redirect flows of people at a whim. I wonder what other purposes such redirections could be used for?

It puzzles me how HN is so cynic about anything that comes from Google.

We can say that Google did a thing or two to break people's trust.

Re: Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI

#24

Post by slingnow »

loloquwowndueo wrote: post #18
minitoar wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Until you have an accident and require lots of carbon intensive medical treatment, and your ebike is trashed. Disclaimer: I ride and love ebikes.

Yeah because walking is accident-free and cars are so much cheaper and carbon-friendlier to repair than bicycles.

Either you're being purposely obtuse or you honestly believe the accident rate between walking and riding an electric vehicle is the same.

Re: Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI

#25

Post by tehjoker »

uoaei wrote: post #19
commiebob wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly though, what about any of Google's behavior in the past several years should make us give them the benefit of the doubt?

The fact that it is an immense and heterogeneous organization with many different decision-makers at all levels with varying priorities and intentions. Essentializing Google as a singular agent obscures this perspective and gives no credence to those who are trying to push it in better directions from the inside.

Anything like a major PR campaign is approved at the highest levels.

EDIT: I'd also note that in the book Surveillance Capitalism, Zuboff discusses how Pokemon Go was seen in investor circles as a successful demonstration of manipulating masses of people to go to commercial spaces by luring them with imaginary characters. This sent market caps soaring. When I saw this headline, I immediately thought that this is them doing that with maps, but in a PR friendly way.

Re: Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI

#26

Post by nullserver »

AussieWog93 wrote: post #9
smabie wrote: post #3

So it'll only show walking directions?

I get that you're being flippant, but I did have a coworker who calculated the carbon footprint of his commute for various modes of transport, including walking. He came to the conclusion that, given the average amount of CO2 produced per calorie consumed, riding an e-bike was actually the lowest-impact way.

So the wheel is efficient, and a low mess wheel more efficient.

Unicycle?

Re: Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI

#27

Post by scarmig »

Lucasoato wrote: post #23
gtirloni wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It puzzles me how HN is so cynic about anything that comes from Google.

We can say that Google did a thing or two to break people's trust.

Cancelling Google Reader is a sure sign that Google is out to exploit people by encouraging them to take lower-carbon routes.

Re: Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI

#28

Post by pezezin »

What I want is an option to find the route with the least amount of turns. I live in a place with little to no urban planning and extremely confusing street layout, and Google will consistently choose very twisty routes, only to later zoom out the map and find that I could have followed an L or S shaped route with just one or two turns.

Re: Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI

#29

Post by SXX »

gtirloni wrote: post #7
tehjoker wrote: post #5

Google greenwashing what is clearly a demonstration of its power to redirect flows of people at a whim. I wonder what other purposes such redirections could be used for?

It puzzles me how HN is so cynic about anything that comes from Google.

Only recently Google been caught degrading UX of Firefox, capturing web standards, pushing AMP and Chrome Manifest v3, making Android less open source with every release and locking it down with SafetyNet, etc. I'm not even going to tell about all dead services, APIs, permanent account-wide bans and non-existent tech support.

Do you expect people to believe in their good will?

Re: Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI

#30

Post by murphyslab »

It's also the cheapest route to drive, as it's optimizing for lower fuel consumption:

    With insights from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab, we’re building a new routing model that optimizes for lower fuel consumption based on factors like road incline and traffic congestion.
Provided that the few extra minutes aren't critical to one's wallet, it's a cost savings. For me those extra minutes are rarely critical. If I could, I'd usually choose the lowest stress route! But I'm definitely going to enjoy using this additional information.
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