Ask HN: What is the long term purpose of Google releasing free offline models?
2•filup•2h ago
Comments
coretx•2h ago
Speculation: It helps engineer consumer agency.
variety8675•1h ago
I'm assuming the bet is that giving away the local models encourages developers to use their cloud ones for more complex tasks
filup•1h ago
All it's done is make me scratch my head and wonder how many millions of dollars was spent to develop something and then just give it away with no strings.
I'm sure there are strings somewhere but I'm not sure what they lead to.
I haven't felt any inclination to utilize their cloud models because of it.
MrCoffee7•1h ago
Giving away or offering lower cost AI models help keep users in the Google ecosystem, which is very financially lucrative for Google with its ad sales related to its search engine.
filup•1h ago
You don't need the google ecosystem at all to utilize them though how does this keep me there whatsoever?
freakynit•1h ago
It keeps "branding" intact. This is similar to red-bull spending $3 BILLION annually on marketing... it's to keep the brand alive in the minds of folks and "associate" them as kinda the de-facto in given industry.
coretx•2h ago