HN Explorer

Ask HN: Are the Google AI releases lacking something?

6 points by apantel ↗ HN
Comparing OpenAI’s release of GPT-4o where they released ONE thing that blew everyone’s minds, vs Google’s release of a wide range of models that all feel sort of underwhelming… does anyone else feel like Google doesn’t have the required spirit or corporate structure to make one great thing?

24 comments

[ 374 ms ] story [ 1947 ms ] thread
talldayo
Google has been crushing it. Unlike OpenAI they are researching and developing useful local models and client-side inferencing libraries, at lower cost and with arguably greater success relative to the performance profile they're targeting.

If you're expecting them to sell out and pitch "alignment" bullshit like sama, you're looking at the wrong company. But they seem to be doing pretty well, and I'd argue that even Apple is jealous of how much foresight Google's AI strategy has.

ipaddr
Crushing it? They are in danger of losing their search monopoly. Whatever you think they are targeting they appear to be playing catch up.
talldayo
Google AI is crushing it; I haven't used Google Search since like 2017. Given how successful YouTube is though I don't even think Google Search is a critical portion of AdSense revenue at this point.
sk11001
> I don't even think Google Search is a critical portion of AdSense revenue at this point.

This is wrong. But it explains why you think that Google are crushing it if you have no idea about the company.

[deleted]
(comment deleted)
meiraleal
What are the evidences that Google is crushing it?
jaggs
Mmm...not sure you're correct with the 'crushing it' motif. Their demos were distinctly underwhelming at IO, except for the Project Alpha one in London. The NotebookLM demo even had an 'audio pre-generated' notice at the bottom of the presentation screen in tiny letters. And their current ImageFX stuff is frankly embarrassing. The company is definitely struggling to catch up in many areas.
talldayo
We might just have to agree to disagree, then. As someone with a background in robotics/model deployment I don't think a single other business is committed to AI in the way Google is. Seriously, is there anyone else more focused on quality local models?

- OpenAI stopped releasing public models a long time ago; their most recent local models are borderline useless (gpt-neo/gpt-j)

- Meta is also performing quite well but relies on third-party training hardware and building a lot less in-house

- Apple is forcing their users down CoreML or bust, apparently with the expectation of busting if the OpenAI deal rumors are true

- Microsoft is just really happy to be here and wants you to know they support this whole "AI" idea

So... who else is left? Projects like Falcon or Mistral are cool but it's hard to say they're "crushing it" when they're effectively being crushed by a lack of funding. The only business that has unshacked themselves from Nvidia to produce actually open, actually usable local models is Google. I don't like Google as a business, but if you look at them and say "they could do better" then I'm really curious who your better example is.

jaggs
No, you're right. I guess what I'm saying is Google is a bit disappointing considering they are probably the company who has contributed most to developing consumer level AI over the decades. I'm not suggesting they don't have the ability, or the will, they just sadly seem to have been caught out by the speed of recent developments. I hope everyone can live together and deliver something of value to us all. Have a great day! :)
talldayo
My bad too. I didn't realize you were responding to the parent post :P
mejutoco
Which local Google model can I run on my computer? Are they better than falcon or mistral and valid for commercial use?
sk11001
OpenAI are smaller and more focused. Google don’t have good vision and anything new they do has to be checked against their existing products (how will this impact search, advertising, Google Assistant). OpenAI don’t have the same baggage, and they don’t have the same obligation to shareholders since they’re not a public company.
Spooky23
They also are Google. OpenAI can adopt a hold my beer attitude and be ok.

Google’s failures will be celebrated loudly and for years. Google is like Apple for services.

muzani
I feel like most of Google's shareholders today are investing because of AI, and so they're under immense pressure to put AI in every sentence.

Many shareholders aren't even that sophisticated. They come from mining, property, factories, farms, logistics. They see AI and a brand name, they buy.

These companies are also terrible to work in - what the shareholders want and the CEO they pick often don't align to the reality on the ground. A good CEO will bullshit shareholders just enough to keep the people on the ground working. What you see on the outside is likely not targeted at people like us.

theGeatZhopa
its not about ONE, but more about specialization and focusing to certain areas of some interest. Its better to have and to be able to monetize a lot of products, than having ONE, that is pretty difficult to press into a lot of products. Diversification is, like in stock trading, important. As Alphabet is already a horizontal business, it would be dumb for them not to do so and not to use synergies.
KorematsuFredt
A cruise ship does many things a fishgin trawler is expected to only fish.
FergusArgyll
The way I see it is: Google is doing one thing, Convincing you to be a part of the Google ecosystem. The said multiple times "Only in Android", they showed AI in google workspace (Which has been underwhelming for me so far but seems like they just upgraded the model behind it) fast AI in google search. what stuck out to me tho was Android, if I'm reading the tea leaves correctly this will become a massive selling point and focus for google. We can wait for WWDC but as of now, there's no question Google is way ahead of Apple. If all the AI products on Android are deemed useful by users (big if, I know), this will be massive differentiation.
getprops
The difference for me was that Google had it all polished with fancy videos, whereas Open AI did a Live Demo that had a few hiccups - It felt more real and relatable
shivc
it seemed more of an iterative release than anything else. Also I guess compared to the competition they feel slightly underwhelming overall.
nektro
ethics. soul. the list goes on
meiraleal
Google lost the spotlight. It's a suits company and all the nerds left. Nobody cares about IBM, HP and now Google efforts in AI.