Resistance is Futile; You Will Be Googlated

Google explains how they use the insights of Friedrich Hayek to predict the future, and observes that their search algortithm, too, is all about finding a way to make use of dispersed knowledge. I eagerly await the day in which we've all melded in the great Google überbrain.

Comments

[Warren]

I for one welcome our 10^100 overlords

[Paul W]

I got into an interesting on-line debate right after the 2004 election. We had a "contest" on who could call the most states correctly for Kerry or Bush. Using the simple method of going to the markets, and giving Bush every state where his price was over $0.50, I went 51 for 51.

The reaction of the other participants was basically, "Yeah, but so what? The markets aren't that great, all they are doing is using the same info as the polls." Well, yes, that was precisely the point. Having a market (if it is sufficiently robust) boils down *all* polls simultaneously into one single, comprehensible number. It is the Mother of All Polls. The market provides absolutely no new information that wasn't out there previously, it condenses it into one easy-to-read format. And that's their genius.

[Dave Johnston]

My advice: These Googletastic minions should take their love of Hayek and markets upstairs to the floor that makes the big decisions and maybe, I don't know, convince a few suits to stop bending over for communist dictatorships.

But that's just me.

I should probably just shut my mouth and keep staring at Google Earth like I'm Homer Simpson in front of a plate of donuts.

[Shelby]

I eagerly await the day in which we've all melded in the great Google uberbrain.

Only if we can have it on Google's servers, and not Reason's!

[dead_elvis]

If something isn't indexed in google, does it really exist?

[Carl]

The real question Dead E, is whether Google is true by definition. Think about it: Google doesn't produce information, they just catalog what society already thinks about the topic. So, if Google says something, that means X million people already think it. And that means it may as well be true, whether it is or not.

[Ruthless melded]

Ich bin ein Ueberbrain, Barberbrain, Barbarian, Brains und Eggs und/oder Librarian... nicht wahr?

[Stevo DefLeppardly]

Gunter glieben glauchen globen?

[dead_elvis]

Stevo, no offense to the fine senses of humor of other posters here, but you most consistently make me almost spit beverage on my monitor.

[Stevo Darkly]

Danka.

[Patri Friedman]

I have some more information about the project up at Catallarchy.