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Google Is Developing Its Own Uber Competitor

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Re: Google Is Developing Its Own Uber Competitor

#191

Post by downandout »

softdev12 wrote: post #85

I'm glad that the article highlighted how valuable the mapping information is that Google collects. While Uber probably could still run its current operations without Google map data, there is a much smaller probability that they would be able to run a self-driving car service without a highly accurate mapping product. And to build a mapping product is really difficult and expensive. I was surprised when Google start…

Self driving cars will be available to purchase from multiple manufacturers, and those manufacturers will have to deal with the mapping issues. Accordingly, while Google will be a formidable and perhaps dominant competitor in this space, I don't see mapping as the deciding factor here. The fact that Android, with its massive install base, will likely come with Google's service built in seems much more likely to help them destroy competitors.

Re: Google Is Developing Its Own Uber Competitor

#192

Post by whatusername »

bobbles wrote: post #46
VikingCoder wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"all the same car type" I can't imagine why you think this. I'm picturing that you can order the Google autonomous car that has a 42" TV screen, a hot tub, and a magnum of champagne. Or the stretch limo. Or a flatbed truck. Maybe one without a passenger compartment. Picture "PODS." Portable On-Demand Storage. Except the thing just drives to your house. Picture ordering "Lightning McQueen" for your kid's birthday part…

I'd love a service where I can rent some storage unit out in the middle of the country somewher (I live in Australia..) for cheap cheap prices, then just call a car/van to my house with an app, load it up with gear, and have it delivered out to my storage unit. Seems like a great way to handle people in my situation where I can only afford a small place but don't necessarily want to get rid of all my stuff just becau…

I've seen a few of these around Melbourne... Always seemed like a great business model.

http://www.taxiboxmobileselfstorage.com.au/

Re: Google Is Developing Its Own Uber Competitor

#193

Post by wpietri »

recursive wrote: post #112
serve_yay wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Welcome to HN, where "nobody uses x" is disproved by one person using x, because the only logic in existence is Popperian.

No, you're wrong. I once used non-Popperian logic.

I am honestly crying with laughter here. Future historians may recognize this as the perfect Hacker News comment.

Re: Google Is Developing Its Own Uber Competitor

#194

Post by ItsMattyG »

spoondan wrote: post #80
lpolovets wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't have insider knowledge, but I believe Google claims that there's a wall between Google and GV, and they act completely independently. This makes sense to me -- otherwise, no one would pitch ideas to GV that Google might one day implement (i.e. basically all ideas that have a software angle). To me, if Google uses insider knowledge to copy Uber, then that would be huge mistake and credibility killer; if they w…

I don't think Google Ventures's role is particularly relevant. Companies should be aware of what data they are providing Google when making use of Google services. Google doesn't need to have insider information to have a wealth of information about Uber trips: the number of trips, when they most frequently occur, duration and miles covered, what cities are most popular, what are the popular starting and ending point…

This is the essence of Simon Wardley's ILC model (http://blog.gardeviance.org/2013/01/ecosystems.html) - It's a strategy that every smart maker of low level services implements.

Re: Google Is Developing Its Own Uber Competitor

#195

Post by [deleted] »

paulhauggis wrote: post #190
smtddr wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> Google is just as evil as any large corporation. Let's not exaggerate. Google might not be perfect; nobody is, but their actions are great magnitudes in distance from the evil some other companies have done. I'd rather work for Google than any of the companies below: - http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/10/1141724/-Walmart-fu... - http://www.alternet.org/story/52526/rural_communities_exploi... - http://thinkpro…

Google's entire business is based on completely taking every single one of our actions, thoughts, connections, and interests and selling it out to advertisers. Most Android phones push you to put everything into the cloud. Do you know why? Oh yeah, that's right, so they can sell your data to advertisers. Recently, they stopped putting organic search terms in referral traffic from the Google search engine to a website…

[deleted]

Re: Google Is Developing Its Own Uber Competitor

#196

Post by Vik1ng »

softdev12 wrote: post #85

I'm glad that the article highlighted how valuable the mapping information is that Google collects. While Uber probably could still run its current operations without Google map data, there is a much smaller probability that they would be able to run a self-driving car service without a highly accurate mapping product. And to build a mapping product is really difficult and expensive. I was surprised when Google start…

Give it a few years and OpenStreetMap will be superior. Here in Germany it will probably beat google maps most of the time.

There is of course still the routing part.

Re: Google Is Developing Its Own Uber Competitor

#197

Post by dojomouse »

So much criticism of Google! My question: Why on earth would Google want to cede any significant chunk of the personal transport value stream to Uber - or acquire them at a $40Bil+ valuation - when the main (only?) semi-uniquely valuable thing Uber have (a large network of drivers) is worth approximately zero dollars in a self-driving vehicle scenario. Uber are valuable and effective in a human-driven vehicle model because they have achieved critical mass in the pool of human drivers on their network, and are in a position to grow that pool. In a self driving vehicle model critical mass of vehicles/drivers is available to anyone with a decent line of credit.

Re: Google Is Developing Its Own Uber Competitor

#198

Post by neverwrong »

serve_yay wrote: post #88
Kalium wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've bought food with Wallet before. And made a meal of it. So, I suppose I have.

Welcome to HN, where "nobody uses x" is disproved by one person using x, because the only logic in existence is Popperian.

i didn't realize negation is an invented concept ("popperian")

Re: Google Is Developing Its Own Uber Competitor

#200

Post by kunaalarya »

nostrademons wrote: post #167
aetherson wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Huh? No. Anyone with relatively deep pockets could easily disrupt Uber right now. Uber's technology is pretty simple and straightforward, and not meaningfully patent-protected. You can do the same tech given six months or so and a decent engineering team. And Uber's customer-base is price sensitive. You can easily get into this market if you're willing to price compete with Uber. Now, Uber is very willing to price-co…

The hard part of Uber isn't the tech, it's building up the network. Two-sided marketplaces are really hard to build from scratch, when there are no competitors. They're virtually impossible once both your customers and your drivers are like "I've already had good experiences with Uber. Why would I take a chance on you?" That's why Google has an advantage over everyone else - for them it's a one -sided marketplace, th…

not necessarily. a lot of Uber's drivers use cars that are financed through Uber and are effectively locked into Uber for 5 years (unless they step out of ridesharing). This is how Uber has been able to maintain a huge supply with great cars (vs. you don't know what you'll get with Lyft).
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