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Redefining what a map can be with new information and AI

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81–90 of 293 posts

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

#81
post #22

So they'll default to showing directions for biking, walking, and transit?

At least for cars, it makes little sense because the dominant factor is going to be the time on the road, which they in theory have been trying to minimize already. Any additional micro-optimizations are going to be fractional.

Unless of course they optimize for me not driving under a train bridge with my camper. That would be a big help. I wish they took into account the vehicle you are driving.

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

#83
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The quoted paragraph clearly states that the lower-emissions route will only be given by default when there are multiple routes with a similar ETA. So it will never tell you to take a route that takes longer just to reduce your emissions, without also telling you about the shorter route with higher emissions. Since you have seemingly already abandoned google maps due to their activism before reading this story, what…

How is the fastest route not the least carbon footprint?

Efficiency drops sharply at high speed.

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

#84
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The quoted paragraph clearly states that the lower-emissions route will only be given by default when there are multiple routes with a similar ETA. So it will never tell you to take a route that takes longer just to reduce your emissions, without also telling you about the shorter route with higher emissions. Since you have seemingly already abandoned google maps due to their activism before reading this story, what…

How is the fastest route not the least carbon footprint?

It looks like part of the carbon footprint model is based on road inclines and traffic congestion.

For example, a super-fast route that's up an extremely-steep incline on the way may technically be faster from point A to B, but would be less carbon efficient than taking a slightly-longer route that is flatter.

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

#85
post #65
post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have read that cyclists who only eat beef generate more CO2 per mile than a hybrid car, though that presumably that ignores all the carbon cost of building cars and car infrastructure. Bikes are still better in pretty much every way. https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/are-meat-eating-cyc...

Do cyclists have drastically different diets than car-drivers? In my experience there is more overlap between cyclists and vegetarians than carnivores.

Yes.

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

#86
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The quoted paragraph clearly states that the lower-emissions route will only be given by default when there are multiple routes with a similar ETA. So it will never tell you to take a route that takes longer just to reduce your emissions, without also telling you about the shorter route with higher emissions. Since you have seemingly already abandoned google maps due to their activism before reading this story, what…

How is the fastest route not the least carbon footprint?

Maybe it's the shortest total distance, but has a lot of stop lights along the way causing frequent total stops/starts

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

#87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

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

I don't have accidents, accidents have me. I refuse to ride the road anymore. Wisdom.

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

#88
post #67
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a great example of why I figured Google Maps for navigation. I don't use Maps to express my environmental values, I use it to get from A to B the fastest way. If they default to something else, they are actively getting in the way of why I would use their product. I have no interest in activist software.

> they are actively getting in the way of why I would use their product No they aren't. They're being completely transparent about this and giving you the option to keep the old behavior with a one-time settings change. So what's the problem exactly?

Google also explicitly says that it only does it when the ETAs are very close, so realistically, it will still be doing what you want. It feels pretty extreme to write such an angry comment about maybe getting a route than 1-2% slower.

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

#89
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a great example of why I figured Google Maps for navigation. I don't use Maps to express my environmental values, I use it to get from A to B the fastest way. If they default to something else, they are actively getting in the way of why I would use their product. I have no interest in activist software.

“I have no interest in activist software” that’s my exact sentiment. Provide the option, sure. Plenty of people care enough to use it. But don’t force it on me. I’ll find software that actually wants to serve its purpose.

If you read the article, there's an option in the settings to not have this option "forced" on you. Even when it's "forced", it's only defaulting to more carbon-positive routes when the ETAs are comparable, so it shouldn't have much of an effect on whether you care about the feature or not.

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

#90
post #7
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.

It is warranted
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