Data is always worth something, eh.
Anyone who has ever touched their software knows how this will go…
It’s gonna be a bloodbath
What do we need this for? Not clear what it does
Seems to be a tool for taking an image and Geo-locating it, even in cases where other sources of data like Googles street map cars are insufficient.
Seems questionably reliable as an independent system. Maybe could help refine more traditional systems? Not sure I understand a use case for this.
The issue is it’s going to be trained only on places people go. My understanding is that most geolocating systems are more focused on the uncommon or less traveled locations. Maybe I’m wrong, but I guess they’re probably tested it out before announcing it.
You’d be surprised how a pokemon go player will open the app in the middle of the wilderness, even with one questionable reception bar, just to see if there’s a secret rare pokemon that lives there. Bonus if you get a postcard from a pokestop someone submitted, because that trail mile marker is “special.” You can keep it for memories, or send it to a friend you’ve never spoken to, for bragging rights. It’s also not unheard of, for people to crawl through backroads in their car, since the app won’t let catch pokemon or count km’s, if you go more than ±15 mph.
AI delivery bots maybe? It’s basically an aggregate of “here’s where it’s possible/common to walk” so it’s not useful for driving/flying AI. Also useful for marketing, knowing where foot traffic is.
The article says they’re treating it as a Large Geospatial Model (like a Large Language Model), so it seems like you could use that as a predictive way to navigate between two points. With an LLM it spits out phrases based on context. The LGM would return paths based on context.
It’s strange that Niantic is doing this when google has been doing the same thing with its own street map data.
Seems weird to make a competing product when (I thought) they are on good terms.
Google is going to get broken up. To what extent is the question. Companies positioning themselves for the aftermath of the Google break up like this isnt too wierd. Who knows what companies will aquire which Google assets so having your own means to seperate yourself from Google is just playing it safe.
