Tag: Google

Octavia E. Butler

Who was Octavia E. Butler, Today's Google Doodle?

Octavia E. Butler, a groundbreaking African-American science fiction writer who would have turned 71 on Friday, was honored with a Google Doodle that celebrates her contributions to the literary world.

Butler was one of the first writers in science fiction — traditionally dominated by white male authors — to include diverse protagonists in her stories, and was widely admired for evocatively exploring hierarchies and human flaws in her work.

Sadly, as an avid science fiction fan, I had not heard about Octavia E. Butler until today when I noticed the Google Doodle. According to WikiPedia, she was the ".. recipient of both the Hugo and Nebula awards, in 1995 she became the first science fiction writer to receive a MacArthur Fellowship.". I think I'll want to read some of her novels especially the Xenogenesis series.

Google Duplex and Axios

What Google isn't telling us about its AI demo by Dan Primack

Axios asked Google for the name of the hair salon or restaurant, in order to verify both that the businesses exist and that the calls were not pre-planned. We also said that we'd guarantee, in writing, not to publicly identify either establishment (so as to prevent them from receiving unwanted attention).

A longtime Google spokeswoman declined to provide either name.

We also asked if either call was edited, even perhaps just cutting the second or two when the business identifies itself. And, if so, were there other edits? The spokeswoman declined comment, but said she'd check and get back to us. She didn't.

So we sent a new message, this time also copying another member of Google's communications team. The spokeswoman replied by saying she'd get right back to us.

That was more than a day ago.

Hmmm…

Google Duplex

Daring Fireball (Daniel Miessler)

It’s totally credible that Google would be the first to achieve something like Duplex, but the fact that all they did — as far as I’ve seen — was play a recording just seems off. It feels like a con.

Google: Hey, check out this cool tech I’ve created. It’s totally awesome. It does this and that and that.

Daring Fireball: Wow! Can I see it?

Google: Not yet. But soon. Then you’ll see how fantastic this is.

Daring Fireball: Just a peek. Something. Anything?

Google: Soon. Just you wait. Now let me tell you about some of the other features ...

Daring Fireball: Er ... I need to finish doing my laundry. Bye.