5 ms·
Google's clearly interested in robotics, DoD, etc.; my guess is that this exit is for cultural reasons. Honestly, surprised they just didn't shutdown the compan
by nxzero 11y ago
Google's clearly interested in robotics, DoD, etc.; my guess is that this exit is for cultural reasons. Honestly, surprised they just didn't shutdown the company if things aren't going well.
- vonmoltke 11y agoGoogle is specifically not interested in DOD work. I don't understand why Google decided to buy a company so tied to DOD contracts if it did not want to continue that work.
- culturestate 11y ago> I don't understand why Google decided to buy a company so tied to DOD contracts if it did not want to continue that work. My experience in this area is quite limited, but it's surprisingly difficult to find companies doing this type of research that are not tied to the DoD in some way. DARPA is a major source of funding for these projects, and many of them wouldn't get funded at all without the government.
- dgacmu 11y agoCase in point, at least until now: iRobot, maker of everyone's favorite robotic vacuums ... and military support robots. (Now spun off, but a core part of the company's strategy for two decades.) Its first years were DARPA-funded for the military applications.
- nxzero 11y agoGoogle is clearly interested in working with the DoD: http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/innovation/2016/03/02/eric-schmidt-google-pentagon-ash-carter-advisory-board/81194738/ http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/innovation/2016/03/...
- vonmoltke 11y agoEric Schmidt participating in an advisory panel on technology trends is not evidence that Google/Alphabet wants to do business with the DOD.
- Johnie 11y agoThis was what I was thinking when they first bought Boston Dynamic. Boston Dynamic was a huge DoD contractor. When Google bought Boston Dynamic, they explicitly said that they do not intend to be a military contractor and was expecting the existing contracts to expire [1]. The contracts that Boston Dynamic had with DoD expired in March 2015 [2]. My guess (BIG UNEDUCATED GUESS) is that the DoD doesn't take too kindly to its contractors not renewing its contracts and these military contracts contradict the corporate culture of Google. What's interesting is that they sold Boston Dynamic exactly a year after the DoD contract expired (donning conspiracy hat). [1] http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/14/technology/google-adds-to-its-menagerie-of-robots.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/14/technology/google-adds-to-... [2] http://upstart.bizjournals.com/companies/innovation/2015/01/21/upgraded-google-robot-may-be-last-to-compete-in.html?page=all http://upstart.bizjournals.com/companies/innovation/2015/01/...
- nxzero 11y agoHave you seen this: http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/innovation/2016/03/02/eric-schmidt-google-pentagon-ash-carter-advisory-board/81194738/ http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/innovation/2016/03/...
- hnmcs 11y agoI'm going to go with Reuters for that story: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-military-innovation-idUSKCN0W421V http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-military-innovation-id... Being that they were the source, best as I can tell. summary: Schmidt joins board to help an "alphabet" US govt agency or two modernize their operations with industry best practices editorial: This could be good or bad, depending on how things turn out. And for your weather forecast, it either will be rainy tomorrow, or it won't. hn-cross-ref: https://hn.algolia.com/?query=www.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus-usa-military-innovation-idUSKCN0W421V https://hn.algolia.com/?query=www.reuters.com%2Farticle%2Fus...
- asquabventured 11y ago> My guess (BIG UNEDUCATED GUESS) is that the DoD doesn't take too kindly to its contractors not renewing its contracts You may burn some bridges in your example but think of DoD like any other organization. If it's not getting the spotlight, there will be no hard feelings when things turn.