Tried API.ai a few months ago and was very unimpressed with the results (things were slow, expensive and not very powerful. Rebuilding the models was also broken at times). I am unsure why Google are acquiring them, especially given that they have DeepMind and TensorFlow teams.
Api.ai is joining Google
31–40 of 159 posts
Re: Api.ai is joining Google
#32I'm assuming Google doesn't need any of the company's business, and that it is being acquired for its talent. So, my real question: how much, on average, does a founder get as part of one of these acquihires? And does s/he actually, y'know, have to do any work after getting paid?
Depends on whether it is an all cash, all stock, or mixed deal.
Typically a "shotgun" clause is triggered and all employees immediately vest and cash out.
Founders, however, negotiate "earn out" clauses with the acquirer, which provides some upfront cash with the balance to be paid out over time, contingent on performance or retention goals.
Re: Api.ai is joining Google
#33not sure what google gains by doing this, hope google can leverage this and give its customer more AI-APIs, the more the merrier, especially better speech-APIs(similar to Alexa but more open)
Re: Api.ai is joining Google
#34I'm assuming Google doesn't need any of the company's business, and that it is being acquired for its talent. So, my real question: how much, on average, does a founder get as part of one of these acquihires? And does s/he actually, y'know, have to do any work after getting paid?
I'm assuming Google doesn't need any of the company's business, and that it is being acquired for its talent.
I wouldn't assume that. Developer-friendly natural language APIs will only become more important over the next few years.
Re: Api.ai is joining Google
#35Does this signal a continued push for bots and conversational UX?
Where does the belief in the tech come from? Are there any examples of real success with this tech?
Bots can't solve discovery in a novel way without big advances in NLP. There doesn't seem to be a bridge from here to there where it makes sense as a user.
Is this just irrational exuberance?
I'd love to understand why microsoft/google/facebook are all continuing to bet big here.
Re: Api.ai is joining Google
#36Congratulations to the api.ai team. Unrelated to the acquisition directly, but fantastic logo placement. I can't be the only person that looks for their color-changing sign every time I drive down the 101. Awesome advertising / growth hack. :)
I think a sign on the 101 might be better for advertising to acquirers than to end users.
Re: Api.ai is joining Google
#37Does this signal a continued push for bots and conversational UX? Where does the belief in the tech come from? Are there any examples of real success with this tech? Bots can't solve discovery in a novel way without big advances in NLP. There doesn't seem to be a bridge from here to there where it makes sense as a user. Is this just irrational exuberance? I'd love to understand why microsoft/google/facebook are all c…
> I'd love to understand why microsoft/google/facebook are all continuing to bet big here.
Because they can afford to. And because if you wait for success examples, you might just be too late.
Re: Api.ai is joining Google
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
Users honestly should know better by now.
...should know better than to use products and services online? Your comment is as toxic as the acquihire culture itself, and only makes users feel less "part of the internet" when companies treat them as disposable.
Should know better than to rely on and pay for a service without some kind of assurance that it won't simply be switched off with little warning. Maybe expect a bond big enough to keep the service running in its current form for N years?
It's better for potential users to be aware of how often this happens, than go on in ignorance of it.
Re: Api.ai is joining Google
#39Earlier quoted context omitted.
Users honestly should know better by now.
...should know better than to use products and services online? Your comment is as toxic as the acquihire culture itself, and only makes users feel less "part of the internet" when companies treat them as disposable.
It's a cynical comment, but one that (sadly) may serve users well.
It's like the "assume your equity is worth zero" heuristic that many of us (including myself) employ when advising friends. It's not strictly accurate, and if taken truly literally it may poison the well for the startup ecosystem, but following this heuristic would prevent painful events for many employees.
Re: Api.ai is joining Google
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
What do the founders typically do within the acquiring corp after the acquisition? Do they have any agency? Or are they just another set of middle managers for the meat grinder?
It's unusual for an acquihire to have real agency in a big company. It's usually the middle management route - or worse - the limbo of having nothing real to do like the parody scenario in the Silicon Valley tv show.
It's called "Vest in Peace" for a reason.
Your soul dies just a little bit (or a lot) while watching the clock.