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DeepMind's latest AI can master games without being told their rules
In 2016, Alphabet's DeepMind came out with AlphaGo, an AI which consistently beat the best human Go players. DeepMind then created AlphaZero, which could play Go, chess and shogi with a single algorithm. DeepMind's latest AI, MuZero, didn't need to be told the rules of go, chess, shogi and a suite of Atari games to master them.
Project Delta's food waste moonshot is now part of Google
Food waste in America is a big problem with an estimated 30 - 40 percent of our groceries getting tossed out, costing retailers $57 billion each year. To address this issue, X launched a food waste moonshot in search of a smarter food distribution system. Two and a half years of research and prototyping later, the project is moving up to Google proper for further development at scale.
Google AI is now piloting Loon's internet-beaming balloons
The reinforcement learning model guides balloons much more efficiently.
Waymo's COVID-19 safety tightens as it faces another possible shutdown
A Waymo partner has reportedly set out tighter COVID-19 safety rules, and it's not guaranteeing that it can pay quarantined workers in the future.
Alphabet will use beams of light to deliver internet in Kenya
It’s been a while since we’ve heard about Alphabet’s Free Space Optical Communications (FSOC) project. If you’ve forgotten all about it, we don’t blame you: the acronym doesn’t stick in the mind quite like Google Fiber or Project Loon. To solve the problem, Alphabet’s ‘X’ division has renamed the initiative Project Taara.
Alphabet's revenue recovers despite looming antitrust lawsuit
That’s not only better than last quarter’s $38.3 billion but also beats last year’s $40.5 billion for the same period. This quarter’s increase in year-over-year revenues is 14 percent, compared to the same period last year’s 20 percent.
Alphabet’s Loon sets a new record for longest stratospheric flight
Google Parent Alphabet has revealed that one of its Loon balloons spent 312 days aloft, breaking its previous stratospheric flight record of 223 days, by a wide margin.
The Department of Justice sues Google over antitrust concerns
Google is accused of having an unfair monopoly over search and search-related advertising.
YouTube bans misinformation on COVID-19 vaccines
YouTube will remove videos that contain misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines (via Reuters). It will ban any content that contradicts information about those vaccines from the World Health Organization (WHO) or local health authorities, the company said in a blog post. It also plans to remove videos that say a COVID-19 vaccine will kill someone, make them infertile or that it will be a way for governments to implant chips in people.
Alphabet's Mineral moonshot wants to help farmers with robotic plant buggies
In 2018, Alphabet's X lab said it was in the process of exploring how it could use artificial intelligence to improve farming. The Mineral team has spent the last several years "developing and testing a range of software and hardware prototypes based on breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, simulation, sensors, robotics and more." Powered by solar panels, the machine makes its way across a farmer's field, examining every plant it passes along the way with an array of cameras and sensors.
Google may turn YouTube into a shopping destination
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House Democrats push Congress to break up Big Tech monopolies
A 449-page report from the Democrats on the House Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust found evidence of monopolization and monopoly power while investigating Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google.
DOJ may present its antitrust case against Google later this month
The New York Times reports Justice Department lawyers are divided over a push to bring antitrust charges against Alphabet/Google this month, as some worry that moving too fast will help Google's case.
Alphabet's Loon balloons are helping scientists study gravity waves
To compile their report, professor Sheshadri and her team used data that Alphabet's Loon balloons collected over 6,811 separate 48-hour periods between 2014 and 2018.
Alphabet's Verily begins offering stop-loss health insurance
Google's life sciences sibling is now selling insurance.
Cavnue is designing a road for autonomous cars in Michigan
The state of Michigan is partnering with an Alphabet subsidiary called Cavnue to potentially build a 40-mile autonomous corridor between Detroit and Ann Arbor.
Alphabet saw its revenue dip due to the pandemic
It hasn’t been a good quarter for most people and Google parent company Alphabet is no exception. After sitting through a grueling five-hour grilling yesterday, CEO Sundar Pichai said today in the company’s earnings release, “We’re working to help people, businesses and communities in these uncertain times.” Alphabet saw its revenue for the second quarter of 2020 fall 2 percent compared to the same period last year.
Waymo and FCA's expanded deal includes self-driving Ram vans
Waymo and FCA are expanding their arrangement around self-driving tech, and Waymo is going to equip the Ram ProMaster van for autonomously driven deliveries.
Volvo will use Waymo technology to power its self-driving cars
Volvo will use Waymo technology to guide its self-driving cars, including one built for ride-hailing services.
Google's racial equity push includes $175 million for Black businesses
Google is committing to racial equity by improving representation and contributing $175 million to businesses.