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A24 TECHNOLOGY
Saturday 3 February 2018
Google’s AI push comes with plenty of people problems

By RYAN NAKASHIMA of whom use it for free. But
Technology Writer the service also contributes
MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) — to Microsoft’s bottom line
It’s been just over a year through its three business
since Microsoft swallowed divisions.
the career networking The biggest, dubbed “tal-
site LinkedIn. That’s long ent solutions,” helps recruit-
enough to start asking: ers attract and find jobs for
Was the $27 billion deal workers. It also makes mon-
worth it? ey from advertisements on
Critics warned at the time its platform and offers paid
of the deal that Microsoft subscriptions for online
was overpaying for a de- courses and premium ac-
clining business. cess on its network.
Others argued that Micro- Among those buying into
soft’s largest-ever acquisi- the platform are sales rep-
tion fit into a strategy of resentatives using it as a
building up the company’s tool for “social selling,” or
Office suite of workplace targeting prospective cus-
productivity products and tomers through their trust-
its cloud-computing busi- ed social networks and
ness. connections.
“I don’t think we’ll know for Another of LinkedIn’s co-
a couple years if this will re- In this Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, file photo, Google CEO Sundar Pichai speaks during a product founders and its first chief
ally pay off, but the signs event in San Francisco. Associated Press technology officer, Eric
thus far are positive,” said Ly, said in an interview
Jillian Ryan, an analyst for ating with a “great level of new federal tax law signed tors Wednesday. Wednesday that this is “re-
eMarketer. autonomy,” Ryan said. in December. Hood said the acquisition ally just the beginning” of
Most people who use “Microsoft hasn’t really in- LinkedIn’s contribution is “performing better than what LinkedIn could of-
LinkedIn to connect with tervened that much, con- to quarterly revenue was we expected, and I think fer as Microsoft taps into
colleagues or search for sidering the vast scope $1.3 billion, the highest it’s today we would even say the professional network’s
career opportunities could and price tag of this inte- been since the acquisition it’s a more strategic as- database of work histories
be forgiven if they haven’t gration,” she said. closed in December 2016, set than we even maybe and other detailed infor-
noticed many chang- Microsoft on Wednesday though it’s still too early to thought a year ago.” She mation that users share
es since the acquisition posted second-quarter compare year-over-year referred to its power to about themselves.
closed in December 2016. revenue of $28.92 billion, a growth. add to the company’s un- “There was a lot of value
LinkedIn’s longtime CEO 12 percent increase over Still, Microsoft Chief Finan- derstanding of its custom- in the data alone,” said Ly,
Jeff Weiner continues to the same quarter a year cial Officer Amy Hood and ers and their connections who now runs a new com-
hold that title. Its co-found- earlier. The company also CEO Satya Nadella were with one another. pany called Hub. “Micro-
er, Reid Hoffman, now sits reported a loss of $6.3 bil- effusive about the net- LinkedIn boasts of more soft’s going to be able to
on Microsoft’s board. lion, tied to a $13.8 billion work’s performance in a than 530 million users on its recoup its investments and
The LinkedIn brand is oper- tax charge related to the conference call with inves- professional network, most get a lot more back.”q

Robot makes coffee at

new cafe in Japan’s capital

shop’s name in Japanese cluding cappuccino, hot reasonable price.
means “strange cafe.” chocolate and green tea Tamaki says it’s not just
The single-armed robot latte. about efficiency. “We
scans a ticket purchased Customers, many of them want the robot to entertain
from a vending machine young men, took photos customers so it’s not like
and greets the customer. with their smartphones buying coffee at a vend-
“Would you care for a deli- while they waited in line. ing machine,” he said.
cious coffee?” the barista, The cafe operator, travel Takeshi Yamamoto, a
with a screen showing a agency H.I.S. Co., says ro- 68-year-old restaurant em-
pair of cartoon eyes, asks bots can increase produc- ployee who works in the
in a flat tone. “I can make tivity while also entertain- neighborhood, said his first
one better than human ing customers. experience with the robot
beings around here.” “An essential point is to in- cafe was very enjoyable,
Robot barista named “Sawyer” makes a coffee at Henn-na It grinds the coffee beans, crease productivity,” said and his robot-made coffee
Cafe, Japanese meaning “Strange Cafe”in Tokyo, Friday, Feb. fills a filter and pours hot Masataka Tamaki, gener- was delicious.
2, 2018. water over a paper cup for al manager of corporate “It’s quite rich, and tastes
Associated Press
up to five people at once. planning at H.I.S. He said very good,” Yamamoto
MARI YAMAGUCHI a robot barista. A cup of brewed coffee only one person needs to said, as he took a sip. “You
Associated Press The robot named Sawyer costs 320 yen ($3) and oversee the robot cafe, can get machine-made
TOKYO (AP) — Japan has debuted this week at Hen- takes a few minutes. compared to several peo- coffee at convenience
a new robot cafe where na Cafe in Tokyo’s down- Sawyer can also operate ple needed at a regular stores, too, and it’s actually
customers can enjoy cof- town business and shop- an automated machine coffee shop, so it can serve good. But here, I had great
fee brewed and served by ping district of Shibuya. The for six other hot drinks in- better quality coffee at a fun.”q