4 ms·

"Interestingly enough, after reading that, I realized that Google doesn't stand a chance in hell of beating them at commerce." I used to work for a strapping s

by swalsh 12y ago

"Interestingly enough, after reading that, I realized that Google doesn't stand a chance in hell of beating them at commerce." I used to work for a strapping start-up. Our competition had a lot more money, and people than us... but it didn't really matter because we were smarter in how we approached building the product. The future of eCommerce is going to be very heavily dependent on AI & robots. Product Suggestions > inventory management > ware house > packing > delivering. AI makes your customers buy more, and robots make delivering it cheaper. As good as Amazon is at creating this infrastructure, google has demonstrated a mastery in AI, and they're purchasing every robot company around. The competition is on, and I wouldn't count them out.

exelius 12y ago
Amazon has actually been better at this kind of stuff than Google. Since their acquisition of Kiva Systems, they have built what is by far the best automated warehousing/logistics platform of any company in the world. The future of EVERYTHING is going to be very reliant on AI and robots. My view is that the last 20 years have been the Internet revolution. The next 20 are all about AI and robotic automation. Both disciplines have existed for a long time, but they've hit a tipping point where price and effectiveness are putting them within reach of total ubiquity.
jfoutz 12y ago
Both Amazon and Google are very smart. Amazon seems to have a greedy algorithm with regard to new tech. I mean, Amazon seems to keep automating the least efficient thing - http://www.kivasystems.com/ http://www.kivasystems.com/ for example. Google is much more forward looking, looking for big changes, like self driving cars. I can see google taking over more markets like they did with search. "more wood behind fewer arrows" was the saying. Amazon is much more broad, if Amazon has something, they'll rent it to you.
- seanmcdirmid 12y ago
  Agreed. Google is more likely to be the GE of the future: a lot of great technology, hands in many industries. Amazon, in contrast, is like a cross between Wal-Mart and the old AT&T (there is no good previous analogy for what they are doing, but many are doing the same...see Taobao).
hyp0 12y ago
google has trouble turning technology into businesses, apart from advertising. a bit like Xerox and its PARC

by swalsh 12y ago

exelius 12y ago

Amazon has actually been better at this kind of stuff than Google. Since their acquisition of Kiva Systems, they have built what is by far the best automated warehousing/logistics platform of any company in the world. The future of EVERYTHING is going to be very reliant on AI and robots. My view is that the last 20 years have been the Internet revolution. The next 20 are all about AI and robotic automation. Both disciplines have existed for a long time, but they've hit a tipping point where price and effectiveness are putting them within reach of total ubiquity.

jfoutz 12y ago

Both Amazon and Google are very smart. Amazon seems to have a greedy algorithm with regard to new tech. I mean, Amazon seems to keep automating the least efficient thing - http://www.kivasystems.com/ http://www.kivasystems.com/ for example. Google is much more forward looking, looking for big changes, like self driving cars. I can see google taking over more markets like they did with search. "more wood behind fewer arrows" was the saying. Amazon is much more broad, if Amazon has something, they'll rent it to you.

seanmcdirmid 12y ago
Agreed. Google is more likely to be the GE of the future: a lot of great technology, hands in many industries. Amazon, in contrast, is like a cross between Wal-Mart and the old AT&T (there is no good previous analogy for what they are doing, but many are doing the same...see Taobao).

hyp0 12y ago

google has trouble turning technology into businesses, apart from advertising. a bit like Xerox and its PARC