Re:Why Amazon Has No Profits and Why It Works
by jfoutz on Friday September 05, 2014 @04:00PM
(#8275972)
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/ 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.
Re:Why Amazon Has No Profits and Why It Works
by seanmcdirmid on Friday September 05, 2014 @07:45PM
(#8276883)
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).
Re:Why Amazon Has No Profits and Why It Works
by exelius on Friday September 05, 2014 @03:56PM
(#8275958)
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.
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.