You are planning to drive to The Hague for a job interview, so you start Google Maps for the estimated time of arrival and traffic data. More than one billion people use google maps on a daily base. Many companies are affected by Covid-19 and are forced to change their way of working or entire business models. One company, Covid-19 has affected, is Google. Google has been forced to not only change how it predicts traffic in Google Maps but also add features to google Maps.
For the past 13 years, Google Maps predicted the traffic based on a combination of live traffic data and historical traffic patterns. They used years of information about the weather, potential accidents and roads along your route to predict the estimated time of arrival. But now with 50% global traffic drop after different lockdowns around the world, that method isn’t accurate anymore. Google now changed its models to prioritize more recent data from the last 2 to 4 weeks instead of the older traffic data accumulated over the past 13 years and is partnering with Deepmind to make the ETA’s more accurate. Deepmind is an AI research based company.
Not only was Google forced to change its model to predict traffic and the estimated time of arrival, but it has added new features to Google Maps as well. Google maps has added different features to highlight Covid-19 case counts and outbreaks. The new feature will show the user a seven-day average for Covid-19 cases for the map area that the user is searching for. It will also show whether it is trending downward or upward. The density of each area’s outbreak will be color-coded
for every country in Google Maps. And all the data shown will be based on information from for example Johns Hopkins University, the New York Times and Wikipedia. These sources get their data from public health organizations and state and local health agencies or hospitals.
With this new feature Google wants to inform the users about the Covid-19 cases and outbreaks so that their customers can make more informed decisions about where to go and if they still want to go. Google hopes this feature will help to prevent people from going to places with high cases of Covid-19 and to prevent the further increase of cases.
References:
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2020/09/23/google-maps-will-now-display-coronavirus-outbreaks-and-cases/#712e586e7ad4
- https://blog.google/products/maps/navigate-safely-new-covid-data-google-maps/
- https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/03/covid-19-forced-google-maps-to-change-how-it-predicts-traffic.html
- https://deepmind.com
A lot is written, spoken and shared about the consequences of COVID-19. however, this often concerns the same types of impact and instances that are affected. that is why I find it very interesting to read about these kinds of indirect consequences to a big multinational as Google as well. it is well known to everyone that, for example smaller companies and the catering sector are struggling due to the pandemic. I myself had not yet thought about the influence of the Corona Virus on the accuracy of the Google Maps predictions around traffic, very interesting.
In addition to the fact that their business model around traffic forecasts is changing, you mention Google has also added new features to Google Maps. Of course this implies good intentions, but I think the privacy aspect needs to be carefully considered. I understand, all data is needed in order to be able to slow down the spread of the virus. However, I personally think that possible data misuse should also be taken into account. These kinds of new features provide even more data and thus power, for a company like Google. I think we have to ask ourselves when and where this will end and how we can best deal with this. After all, it is our (the users) data.
Hi Kirra,
First of all, thank you for writing this interesting blog post. I really enjoyed reading it.
I think lot is written, spoken and shared about the consequences of COVID-19. however, this often concerns the same types of impact and instances that are affected. that is why I find it very interesting to read about these kinds of indirect consequences to a big multinational as Google as well. it is well known to everyone that, for example smaller companies and the catering sector are struggling due to the pandemic. I myself had not yet thought about the influence of the Corona Virus on the accuracy of the Google Maps predictions around traffic, very interesting.
In addition to the fact that their business model around traffic forecasts is changing, you mention Google has also added new features to Google Maps. Of course this implies good intentions, but I think the privacy aspect needs to be carefully considered. I understand, all data is needed in order to be able to slow down the spread of the virus. However, I personally think that possible data misuse should also be taken into account. These kinds of new features provide even more data and thus power, for a company like Google. I think we have to ask ourselves when and where this will end and how we can best deal with this. After all, it is our (the users) data.
I am really curious about your thoughts on the privacy concerns. Do you believe Google only has good intentions? Or do you think they might also have other motives, regarding capturing even more data?
And do you see the power and large amount of data owned by Google as a threat and danger?
Thank you in advance,
Kiki Lagerweij