Star Wars Experiments With VR | Crunch Report

TL;DR

Google's AI, AlphaGo, defeats world champion in Go; SpoonRocket shuts down due to lack of funds; GM and Lyft launch program to help drivers without suitable cars; Twitch launches a new Food Channel featuring Julia Child's show; Lucasfilm unveils VR experience called Trials on Tattooine.

Transcript

Google's AI is really good at Go, R-I-P SpoonRocket, GM teams up with Lyft and more... It's Tuesday, March 15 and this is Crunch Report. Chalk up another victory for robots over humans. An A-I created by Google's Deep Mind team has defeated Go world champion Lee Sedol. Sure, this follows other computer victories like Deep Blue defeating Garry Kaspa... Read More

Key Insights

• ✌️ AlphaGo's victory highlights the advancements in AI and its application in complex tasks.
• 😀 The closure of SpoonRocket showcases the challenges faced by on-demand startups in attracting investors.
• 🚙 GM's collaboration with Lyft addresses the issue of drivers lacking suitable cars and working towards a future with autonomous vehicles.
• 🚱 Twitch's expansion into non-gaming channels, such as the Food Channel, demonstrates the platform's diversification to cater to different interests.
• 💗 Lucasfilm's VR experience and the creation of the ILM Experience Lab indicates the growing interest in virtual reality and its potential in the entertainment industry.
• ❓ The success of Trials on Tattooine at the GDC conference suggests a promising future for Star Wars-themed virtual reality experiences.
• 💨 The partnership between GM and Lyft could pave the way for further integration of ride-sharing services and autonomous vehicles in urban mobility.

Questions & Answers

Q: How significant is Google's AI, AlphaGo, defeating a world champion in Go?

Google's AI, AlphaGo, beating the Go world champion, Lee Sedol, is a significant achievement because Go is considered more complex than chess and has a vast number of possible moves. This victory showcases the capabilities of AI in complex strategy games.

Q: Why did SpoonRocket shut down despite reaching profitability?

SpoonRocket's shutdown can be attributed to a lack of funds, which prevented the company from sustaining its operations. Despite achieving profitability on each meal, the company failed to attract investors in the competitive on-demand startup market.

Q: What is the purpose of GM's investment in Lyft and the launch of Express Drive?

GM's investment in Lyft aims to help Lyft put more drivers on the road by launching Express Drive. This program allows Lyft drivers to rent GM vehicles at an affordable weekly rate, addressing the issue of drivers not having suitable cars and laying the groundwork for a potential autonomous vehicle infrastructure.

Q: What content can viewers expect from Twitch's Food Channel?

Twitch's Food Channel includes all episodes of Julia Child's show, The French Chef, catering to those interested in culinary content. Additionally, Twitch personalities are already live broadcasting from their kitchens, offering a variety of food-related content.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Google's AI, AlphaGo, defeats Go world champion, Lee Sedol, in a historic match, winning four games out of five.

• SpoonRocket, the meal delivery service, shuts down due to a lack of funds, despite reaching an eight million dollar revenue rate in 2015.

• General Motors invests $500 million in Lyft and launches Express Drive, a program that allows Lyft drivers to rent GM vehicles.

• Twitch, the streaming service, launches a new Food Channel featuring Julia Child's show and live broadcasts from Twitch personalities.

• Lucasfilm unveils an VR experience called Trials on Tattooine at the GDC conference, showcasing the potential for virtual reality in the Star Wars franchise.