US vs. Google amicus curiae brief of Y Combinator in support of plaintiffs [pdf] • Hacker News Board

Re: US vs. Google amicus curiae brief of Y Combinator in support of plaintiffs [pdf]

#441

Post by Seattle3503 » Sat, May 10, 2025, 9:19 PM UTC

danboarder wrote: post #298

This action comes a bit late, at the end of the "Search engine" era, at a time when AI responses from many sources are largely replacing the "Google Search". Similar action happened against Microsoft Windows around 2000, just as the rise of web-based apps (online email, google docs, etc) largely made the underlying operating system less relevant to how people use their computers and apps. So I read this as the domina…

> This action comes a bit late, at the end of the "Search engine" era, at a time when AI responses from many sources are largely replacing the "Google Search".

AIs are using search indices more and more. Google has the largest, and there is risk of Google using its monopoly in search (in particular their index) to give themselves an unfair advantage in the nascent AI market.

Re: US vs. Google amicus curiae brief of Y Combinator in support of plaintiffs [pdf]

#442

Post by Velorivox » Sat, May 10, 2025, 9:21 PM UTC

eastbound wrote: post #416

sfpotter wrote: post #373

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you used Kagi or Google recently? Kagi works way better.

On every Kagi comment, there is “Have you used Kagi recently? It’s improved a lot!” — to the level that I suspect they have bots to upgrade the brand image, at least to search which comments to respond do. I’m saying that because yes, I’ve used Kagi recently, and I switch back to Google every single time because Kagi can’t find anything. Kagi is to Google what Siri is to ChatGPT. Siri can’t even answer “What time is…

> I suspect they have bots to upgrade the brand image

I disagree with the conclusion but I agree with the premise. Man is a rationalizing animal, and one way to validate one’s choice in paying for a search engine (whether it is better or not) is to get others to use it as well. Kagi is also good at PR, they were able to spin a hostile metering plan as a lenient subscription plan.

Word of mouth is often more prevalent than we think, and certainly more powerful than botting. I would not be shocked if the author of that “AirBnBs are blackhats” article was interacting with real users of Craigslist spurred on by some referral scheme.

Re: US vs. Google amicus curiae brief of Y Combinator in support of plaintiffs [pdf]

#443

Post by [deleted] » Sat, May 10, 2025, 9:27 PM UTC

jmward01 wrote: post #371

hshshshshsh wrote: post #369

Isn't there an obvious conflict of interest here? YC Wil benefit if Google is to share its index with startups. YC will fund hundreds of companies and then one of them will end up monopoly. What kind of bs is this. Cycle repeats.

Kind of the point of breaking up a monopoly is that it benefits a lot of the rest of the industry since the monopoly had been hindering it before. Also, it looks like you are saying any interest = a conflict of interest. Should only entities that have no interest in this matter be allowed to file in this way?

[deleted]

Re: US vs. Google amicus curiae brief of Y Combinator in support of plaintiffs [pdf]

#444

Post by ardit33 » Sat, May 10, 2025, 9:27 PM UTC

0xbadcafebee wrote: post #367

I'm not sure people understand what the consequences of taking away Google's ad revenue is. If a large enough bank goes under, it takes out not just the bank, but huge sectors of the economy, affecting many more businesses and jobs. That's why the government bailed out the banks when they failed. The same will happen when Google loses its ad revenue. Google is an ad company. By opening up all its trade secret data, i…

This is juvenile thinking... none of them will go away. They can be independent services themselves, and be pretty profitable at it.

The upshoot is if they are independent, they will be forced to compete fairly with other services. Which, does increase competition and choice.

Re: US vs. Google amicus curiae brief of Y Combinator in support of plaintiffs [pdf]

#445

Post by artursapek » Sat, May 10, 2025, 9:29 PM UTC

ChuckMcM wrote: post #302

danboarder wrote: post #298

This action comes a bit late, at the end of the "Search engine" era, at a time when AI responses from many sources are largely replacing the "Google Search". Similar action happened against Microsoft Windows around 2000, just as the rise of web-based apps (online email, google docs, etc) largely made the underlying operating system less relevant to how people use their computers and apps. So I read this as the domina…

I would be you $1 that in five to ten years there will be zero "AI" players replacing search. But that's a different topic than this one.

I’ve started using ChatGPT to look up most things I used to Google. It gives me immediate, concise results without having to parse bloated websites full of ads and other garbage.

Re: US vs. Google amicus curiae brief of Y Combinator in support of plaintiffs [pdf]

#446

Post by satvikpendem » Sat, May 10, 2025, 9:30 PM UTC

suddenexample wrote: post #415

ardacinar wrote: post #389

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are we sure that the things listed here will not go away in a few years if Google continues to exist? https://killedbygoogle.com/

People bringing up this site in this specific way is a pet peeve of mine. What's the largest product that they sunset with no replacement? Stadia? Given the number of products Google has, I wouldn't consider their track record below average.

I agree. The vast majority of products "killed by Google" were ones no one were using and many were consolidated into other products.

Re: US vs. Google amicus curiae brief of Y Combinator in support of plaintiffs [pdf]

#447

Post by hamilyon2 » Sat, May 10, 2025, 9:33 PM UTC

0xbadcafebee wrote: post #367

I'm not sure people understand what the consequences of taking away Google's ad revenue is. If a large enough bank goes under, it takes out not just the bank, but huge sectors of the economy, affecting many more businesses and jobs. That's why the government bailed out the banks when they failed. The same will happen when Google loses its ad revenue. Google is an ad company. By opening up all its trade secret data, i…

Android in this list stands out.

If Android goes away, I am not sure who is there to pick up The OS of the world, not IOS, certainly, but who?

All else, good riddance. More competition will make better products.

Re: US vs. Google amicus curiae brief of Y Combinator in support of plaintiffs [pdf]

#448

Post by ikiris » Sat, May 10, 2025, 9:33 PM UTC

fsh wrote: post #435

sofixa wrote: post #419

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because the vast majority of people don't want to and have zero intention pf paying separately for email, maps, navigation, browser, etc. In fact, that's how things used to be before Google and their ilk used ads to make an ecosystem, and their ecosystem was better and free at the point of use than what came before

The vast majority of people are paying separately for all kinds of stuff. I don't see a reason why software and digital services have to be different. In the early days, payment was difficult, but this has been long solved. I am convinced that the quality would improve dramatically if there was some actual competition. Also most people would probably prefer not to pay for the ad fees that google extorts from pretty m…

With the exception of fi, If you think any of those services are something people want to pay yet another saas subscription for, you’ve been hitting your own supply too much.

Re: US vs. Google amicus curiae brief of Y Combinator in support of plaintiffs [pdf]

#449

Post by nativeit » Sat, May 10, 2025, 9:36 PM UTC

hamilyon2 wrote: post #447

0xbadcafebee wrote: post #367

I'm not sure people understand what the consequences of taking away Google's ad revenue is. If a large enough bank goes under, it takes out not just the bank, but huge sectors of the economy, affecting many more businesses and jobs. That's why the government bailed out the banks when they failed. The same will happen when Google loses its ad revenue. Google is an ad company. By opening up all its trade secret data, i…

Android in this list stands out. If Android goes away, I am not sure who is there to pick up The OS of the world, not IOS, certainly, but who? All else, good riddance. More competition will make better products.

A non-profit collective of device manufacturers and software developers could probably create a very effective and potent steward for Android's long-term development. But I wouldn't hold my breath.

Re: US vs. Google amicus curiae brief of Y Combinator in support of plaintiffs [pdf]

#450

Post by The_Blade » Sat, May 10, 2025, 9:37 PM UTC

wavemode wrote: post #379

0xbadcafebee wrote: post #367

I'm not sure people understand what the consequences of taking away Google's ad revenue is. If a large enough bank goes under, it takes out not just the bank, but huge sectors of the economy, affecting many more businesses and jobs. That's why the government bailed out the banks when they failed. The same will happen when Google loses its ad revenue. Google is an ad company. By opening up all its trade secret data, i…

It's not clear to me why you believe that an antitrust ruling against Google would make them bankrupt. At worst they will lay off workers. But a post-antitrust google is still a viable company

somehow, after the ATT, Microsoft, Standard Oil, or American Tobacco antitrust suits, the constituent parts and country soldiered on