Why I left Google to join Grab • Hacker News Board

Re: Why I left Google to join Grab

#71

Post by reacweb » Wed, Jan 24, 2018, 12:57 PM UTC

syshum wrote: post #58

reacweb wrote: post #37

I think that Google has a very well thought long term strategy. The sole aim of Google is AI, strong AI. I would like to say like Terminator, Person of Interest or transhumanism, but each time I lose many karma points. One of their main scope was analyzing web pages. By "accident", this has created a lucrative business (search engine). Google's aim is to keep the money flowing to pay their AI research. For research,…

The problem with your theory is there are a TON of evidence it is not in any way reality. For example, if their primary motivations were Preventing Monopoly status, and feeding their AI Research they would be embracing open standards, Federation of services, and a whole host of other things they have rejected the last decade or so. They would have never Killed Reader, they would have never taken Hangouts off XMPP, th…

A social network is better when almost everyone are on the same network like it was with facebook. Google avoids having a too good social network to avoid becoming dominant.

If Google provided a good stable API, people may never consider going to concurrence. By pissing off some users, Google stimulates competition and avoids becoming a "public service". I think this reasoning explains well Reader, XMPP, their dropped API and explains also why they do not embrace open standards.

I disagree with you on their focus on earnings, but I fully agree with "marred in internal and external politics".

Re: Why I left Google to join Grab

#72

Post by atomashpolskiy » Wed, Jan 24, 2018, 1:08 PM UTC

PhasmaFelis wrote: post #68

iso-8859-1 wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which project should he work on instead?

Not everyone is in a position to make the world a better place through their work, but it would be nice if they didn't actively make it worse.

I'd say we desperately need new ways to self-organize to work on things that matter. Working for business, especially when governments are weak and regulation is pretty much non-existent, is a road to hell for the humanity

Re: Why I left Google to join Grab

#73

Post by notyourday » Wed, Jan 24, 2018, 1:13 PM UTC

sgift wrote: post #55

> When this idea inevitably takes off, people are going to be able to order take-out from their neighbors, from anyone in the city who wants to cook their family recipe. It will change cuisine forever. I had to stop myself from laughing out loud. As if such things as hygiene regulations didn't exist and you can just open a restaurant by hanging a sign out and telling someone to deliver whatever you just produced in y…

Personally, I always find it funny when those who cut their teeth in a software industry ( which based on profit margins is a toddler ) think that their skills translate into well established industries such as restaurants.

Re: Why I left Google to join Grab

#74

Post by linkmotif » Wed, Jan 24, 2018, 1:30 PM UTC

PhasmaFelis wrote: post #69

crispinb wrote: post #20

How depressing. Our living planet is collapsing at a dizzying and increasing pace, and not only do our 'best and brightest' (if that's what they are) work largely on trivia designed to accelerate the collapsing trend, they advertise their superficiality with this crude purported messianic zeal. Froth and bubble atop the dank turbid waters.

"The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity."

Except this piece is nothing but conviction.

Re: Why I left Google to join Grab

#75

Post by linkmotif » Wed, Jan 24, 2018, 1:34 PM UTC

In the beginning of this piece I couldn’t figure out who the author was referring to as Google “customers”: Google users or advertisers? If users, this Google employee didn’t know who the customer was!

Then when the author revealed the innovative business they were most excited about, it was pretty difficult to process. Really? This is the exciting innovation you want in life? Take out delivery?

Every day I have to remind myself everyone is different.

Re: Why I left Google to join Grab

#76

Post by ggggtez » Wed, Jan 24, 2018, 1:34 PM UTC

So he complained about Google just copying, and then boasts this new company is going to be "the Uber of South East Asia"? This is in all seriousness the 5th startup I've heard of that is doing this exact thing. And like everyone else here pointed out: the demand doesn't exist.

The only explanation is that if they really worked at Google for 13 years, they must have made so much money that they don't care about making good financial decisions anymore.

Re: Why I left Google to join Grab

#77

Post by edanm » Wed, Jan 24, 2018, 1:38 PM UTC

ggggtez wrote: post #76

So he complained about Google just copying, and then boasts this new company is going to be "the Uber of South East Asia"? This is in all seriousness the 5th startup I've heard of that is doing this exact thing. And like everyone else here pointed out: the demand doesn't exist. The only explanation is that if they really worked at Google for 13 years, they must have made so much money that they don't care about makin…

"The only explanation is that if they really worked at Google for 13 years"

Just FYI, he's a pretty famous blogger. He also accidentally posted a supposed-to-be-private rant about Google a few years ago, which became pretty famous too.

So yes, he really did work at Google for 13 years.

Re: Why I left Google to join Grab

#78

Post by Jedi72 » Wed, Jan 24, 2018, 1:38 PM UTC

unrequited wrote: post #40

ftoo wrote: post #30

So, working for an Uber clone that underpays its workers and exists to further enrich its billionaire shareholders is the most exciting thing this guy could find to do with his life? After already making millions off of his past career? This is why people hate tech workers.

I'm sure you must be speaking from a country where everyone is employed. The ground reality is how businesses like these create tons of indirect employment feeding their hunger. This is often overseen as we can't imagine in someone else's shoes.

I actually think getting a job delivering food can be a local maxima - you make a few extra bucks, but it ties up all your time and leaves you less open to opportunities and training.

Re: Why I left Google to join Grab

#79

Post by vageli » Wed, Jan 24, 2018, 1:40 PM UTC

notyourday wrote: post #73

sgift wrote: post #55

> When this idea inevitably takes off, people are going to be able to order take-out from their neighbors, from anyone in the city who wants to cook their family recipe. It will change cuisine forever. I had to stop myself from laughing out loud. As if such things as hygiene regulations didn't exist and you can just open a restaurant by hanging a sign out and telling someone to deliver whatever you just produced in y…

Personally, I always find it funny when those who cut their teeth in a software industry ( which based on profit margins is a toddler ) think that their skills translate into well established industries such as restaurants.

What do you mean by

> ..a software industry ( which based on profit margins is a toddler )

I thought software has higher margins than most industries.

Re: Why I left Google to join Grab

#80

Post by notyourday » Wed, Jan 24, 2018, 1:42 PM UTC

vageli wrote: post #79

notyourday wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Personally, I always find it funny when those who cut their teeth in a software industry ( which based on profit margins is a toddler ) think that their skills translate into well established industries such as restaurants.

What do you mean by > ..a software industry ( which based on profit margins is a toddler ) I thought software has higher margins than most industries.

High profit margins imply very immature industry. As industries mature the profit margins drop.