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Launch HN: Voygr (YC W26) – A better maps API for agents and AI apps

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: Launch HN: Voygr (YC W26) – A better maps API for agents and AI apps

#64

Post by sbinnee »

I also have been brewing a similar idea only in my head. But mine is for the local Korean market. Google maps is simply not reliable. Korean people rely on Naver map or Kakao map, who do not even provide APIs. Users are locked up with these local services. They may launch their own mediocre AIs to help the search, who knows in a few years. But then it's going to be too late. I think they should just open up APIs and let developers explore.

What is worse is a huge number of tourists should also use these local services whose translation is not in place. Soon enough, people will ask their AI assistants which restaurants to try out when they plan a visit to Korea. I can see that there is huge opportunity here. Kudos to Voygr team. Fingers crossed.

Re: Launch HN: Voygr (YC W26) – A better maps API for agents and AI apps

#66

Post by ymarkov »

sbinnee wrote: post #64

I also have been brewing a similar idea only in my head. But mine is for the local Korean market. Google maps is simply not reliable. Korean people rely on Naver map or Kakao map, who do not even provide APIs. Users are locked up with these local services. They may launch their own mediocre AIs to help the search, who knows in a few years. But then it's going to be too late. I think they should just open up APIs and…

That is a very interesting insight and thanks for sharing it. We realize that some countries might be having poor maps data, and that example is very helpful - we will take a look

Re: Launch HN: Voygr (YC W26) – A better maps API for agents and AI apps

#67

Post by sbinnee »

ymarkov wrote: post #66
sbinnee wrote: post #64

I also have been brewing a similar idea only in my head. But mine is for the local Korean market. Google maps is simply not reliable. Korean people rely on Naver map or Kakao map, who do not even provide APIs. Users are locked up with these local services. They may launch their own mediocre AIs to help the search, who knows in a few years. But then it's going to be too late. I think they should just open up APIs and…

That is a very interesting insight and thanks for sharing it. We realize that some countries might be having poor maps data, and that example is very helpful - we will take a look

I looked for their APIs not long time ago, which I said non-existent. If you'd like to work with me, I am open to work. If you simply want to talk to me, just drop me an email. I will also checkout your dev tool if I can apply it here.

Re: Launch HN: Voygr (YC W26) – A better maps API for agents and AI apps

#68

Post by sbinnee »

gzread wrote: post #44
ymarkov wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We have models which take all of this into account when producing the verdict. For enterprise clients we emit a calibrated confidence score. With public api we decided to start simpler. Also, we are not using Google data. I’m not a lawyer, but doing that for any maps-related company is simply against Google’s terms of use

FWIW it may be legal to break terms of use

Interesting. Can you elaborate more on that? I was wondering the same thing with other providers, if I can scrape data from their platforms. On what grounds do you think it might be okay?

Re: Launch HN: Voygr (YC W26) – A better maps API for agents and AI apps

#69

Post by ymarkov »

k___c wrote: post #60

Gemini now has grounding in Maps data. How will you differentiate?

Good question - we actually did a benchmark recently and even with maps/search grounding it is pretty suboptimal from a end user's perspective https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47366423 For instance, we found this: "The pattern extends to navigation: Gemini’s own Maps grounding makes it worse at giving directions"

Second, Google Maps API has pretty strict licensing terms - you have to delete data within 30 days, have to attribute it properly. There are reasons why OpenAI and other companies are not using their APIs

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