Kagi's AI assistant, previously in beta, is now available to all users. It aims to provide a more private and personalized search experience by focusing on factual answers, incorporating user feedback, and avoiding generic chatbot responses. Key features include personalized summarization of search results, the ability to ask clarifying questions, and ad-free, unbiased information retrieval powered by Kagi's independent search index. Users can access the assistant directly from the search bar or a dedicated sidebar.
Google DeepMind will support Anthropic's Model Card Protocol (MCP) for its Gemini AI model and software development kit (SDK). This move aims to standardize how AI models interact with external data sources and tools, improving transparency and facilitating safer development. By adopting the open standard, Google hopes to make it easier for developers to build and deploy AI applications responsibly, while promoting interoperability between different AI models. This collaboration signifies growing industry interest in standardized practices for AI development.
Hacker News commenters discuss the implications of Google supporting Anthropic's Model Card Protocol (MCP), generally viewing it as a positive move towards standardization and interoperability in the AI model ecosystem. Some express skepticism about Google's commitment to open standards given their past behavior, while others see it as a strategic move to compete with OpenAI. Several commenters highlight the potential benefits of MCP for transparency, safety, and responsible AI development, enabling easier comparison and evaluation of models. The potential for this standardization to foster a more competitive and innovative AI landscape is also discussed, with some suggesting it could lead to a "plug-and-play" future for AI models. A few comments delve into the technical aspects of MCP and its potential limitations, while others focus on the broader implications for the future of AI development.
Amazon has launched its own large language model (LLM) called Amazon Nova. Nova is designed to be integrated into applications via an SDK or used through a dedicated website. It offers features like text generation, question answering, summarization, and custom chatbots. Amazon emphasizes responsible AI development and highlights Nova’s enterprise-grade security and privacy features. The company aims to empower developers and customers with a powerful and trustworthy AI tool.
HN commenters are generally skeptical of Amazon's Nova offering. Several point out that Amazon's history with consumer-facing AI products is lackluster (e.g., Alexa). Others question the value proposition of yet another LLM chatbot, especially given the existing strong competition and Amazon's apparent lack of a unique angle. Some express concern about the closed-source nature of Nova and its potential limitations compared to open-source alternatives. A few commenters speculate about potential enterprise applications and integrations within the AWS ecosystem, but even those comments are tempered with doubts about Amazon's execution. Overall, the sentiment seems to be that Nova faces an uphill battle to gain significant traction.
This tweet, likely a parody or fictional scenario given the date (October 28, 2023) and context surrounding past similar tweets, proclaims that Elon Musk's xAI has acquired the platform X (formerly Twitter) and that the acquisition has boosted xAI's valuation to $80 billion. No further details about the acquisition or the valuation are provided.
HN commenters are highly skeptical of the claimed $80B valuation of xAI, viewing it as a blatant attempt to pump the price and generate hype, especially given the lack of any real product or publicly demonstrated capabilities. Some suggest it's a tactic to attract talent or secure funding, while others see it as pure marketing fluff or even manipulation, potentially related to Tesla's stock price. The comparison to other AI companies with actual products and much lower valuations is frequently made. There's a general sense of disbelief and cynicism towards Musk's claims, with some commenters expressing amusement or annoyance at the audacity of the valuation.
Ecosia and Qwant, two European search engines prioritizing privacy and sustainability, are collaborating to build a new, independent European search index called the European Open Web Search (EOWS). This joint effort aims to reduce reliance on non-European indexes, promote digital sovereignty, and offer a more ethical and transparent alternative. The project is open-source and seeks community involvement to enrich the index and ensure its inclusivity, providing European users with a robust and relevant search experience powered by European values.
Several Hacker News commenters express skepticism about Ecosia and Qwant's ability to compete with Google, citing Google's massive data advantage and network effects. Some doubt the feasibility of building a truly independent index and question whether the joint effort will be significantly different from using Bing. Others raise concerns about potential bias and censorship, given the European focus. A few commenters, however, offer cautious optimism, hoping the project can provide a viable privacy-respecting alternative and contribute to a more decentralized internet. Some also express interest in the technical challenges involved in building such an index.
The Department of Justice is reportedly still pushing for Google to sell off parts of its Chrome business, even as it prepares its main antitrust lawsuit against the company for trial. Sources say the DOJ believes Google's dominance in online advertising is partly due to its control over Chrome and that divesting the browser, or portions of it, is a necessary remedy. This potential divestiture could include parts of Chrome's ad tech business and potentially even the browser itself, a significantly more aggressive move than previously reported. While the DOJ's primary focus remains its existing ad tech lawsuit, pressure for a Chrome divestiture continues behind the scenes.
HN commenters are largely skeptical of the DOJ's potential antitrust suit against Google regarding Chrome. Many believe it's a misguided effort, arguing that Chrome is free, open-source (Chromium), and faces robust competition from other browsers like Firefox and Safari. Some suggest the DOJ should focus on more pressing antitrust issues, like Google's dominance in search advertising and its potential abuse of Android. A few commenters discuss the potential implications of such a divestiture, including the possibility of a fork of Chrome or the browser becoming part of another large company. Some express concern about the potential negative impact on user privacy. Several commenters also point out the irony of the government potentially mandating Google divest from a free product.
Louis Rossmann criticizes Mozilla's handling of the Firefox browser, arguing they've prioritized telemetry and user tracking over performance and essential features. He points to the declining market share as evidence of their mismanagement and expresses frustration with the browser's increasing bloat and sluggishness. Rossmann believes Mozilla has lost sight of its original mission of providing a fast, open-source alternative to dominant browsers and is instead chasing trends that don't benefit users. He contrasts this with the Pale Moon browser, highlighting its focus on performance and customization as a better embodiment of Firefox's original values.
The Hacker News comments discuss Louis Rossmann's video about Firefox's declining market share. Several commenters agree with Rossmann's assessment that Mozilla has lost focus on its core user base by prioritizing features that don't resonate with power users and developers. Some point to specific examples like the removal of XUL extensions and the perceived bloat of the browser. Others argue that Firefox's decline is inevitable due to the dominance of Chrome and the network effects of Google's ecosystem. A few commenters defend Mozilla's decisions, suggesting they're trying to appeal to a broader audience. The discussion also touches on the difficulty of competing with a resource-rich giant like Google and the importance of open-source alternatives. Several users express nostalgia for Firefox's past dominance and lament its current state.
Newsweek reports that Google Calendar has stopped automatically displaying certain US cultural events like Pride Month, Black History Month, and Holocaust Remembrance Day in the main calendar view for some users. While these events are still accessible within other calendar layers, like the "Interesting Calendars" section, the change has sparked concern and frustration among users who relied on the prominent reminders. Google has not officially commented on the reason for the removal or whether it is a temporary glitch or a permanent change.
HN commenters were largely skeptical of the Newsweek article, pointing out that the events still appeared on their calendars and suggesting user error or a temporary glitch as more likely explanations than intentional removal. Several suggested checking calendar settings, specifically "Browse interesting calendars" under "Other calendars," to ensure the specialized calendars are enabled. Some questioned Newsweek's journalistic integrity and the sensationalist framing of the headline. A few commenters expressed general frustration with Google's frequent, unannounced changes to their products and services. There was also discussion about the effectiveness and potential annoyance of these awareness calendars, with some finding them useful reminders while others viewing them as intrusive or performative.
German consumers are reporting that Seagate hard drives advertised and sold as new were actually refurbished drives with heavy prior usage. Some drives reportedly logged tens of thousands of power-on hours and possessed SMART data indicating significant wear, including reallocated sectors and high spin-retry counts. This affects several models, including IronWolf and Exos enterprise-grade drives purchased through various retailers. While Seagate has initiated replacements for some affected customers, the extent of the issue and the company's official response remain unclear. Concerns persist regarding the potential for widespread resale of used drives as new, raising questions about Seagate's quality control and refurbishment practices.
Hacker News commenters express skepticism and concern over the report of Seagate allegedly selling used hard drives as new in Germany. Several users doubt the veracity of the claims, suggesting the reported drive hours could be a SMART reporting error or a misunderstanding. Others point out the potential for refurbished drives to be sold unknowingly, highlighting the difficulty in distinguishing between genuinely new and refurbished drives. Some commenters call for more evidence, suggesting analysis of the drive's physical condition or firmware versions. A few users share anecdotes of similar experiences with Seagate drives failing prematurely. The overall sentiment is one of caution towards Seagate, with some users recommending alternative brands.
ZDNet argues that the Microsoft 365 Copilot launch was a "disaster" due to its extremely limited availability. While showcasing impressive potential, the exorbitant pricing ($30 per user/month on top of existing Microsoft 365 subscriptions) and restriction to just 600 enterprise customers renders it inaccessible to the vast majority of users. This limited rollout prevents widespread testing and feedback crucial for refining a product still in its early stages, ultimately hindering its development and broader adoption. The author concludes that Microsoft missed an opportunity to gather valuable user data and generate broader excitement by opting for an exclusive, high-priced preview instead of a wider, even if less feature-complete, beta release.
HN commenters generally agree that the launch was poorly executed, citing the limited availability (only to 600 enterprise customers), high price ($30/user/month), and lack of clear value proposition beyond existing AI tools. Several suggest Microsoft rushed the launch to capitalize on the AI hype, prioritizing marketing over a polished product. Some argue the "disaster" label is overblown, pointing out that this is a controlled rollout to large customers who can provide valuable feedback. Others discuss the potential for Copilot to eventually improve productivity, but remain skeptical given the current limitations and integration challenges. A few commenters criticize the article's reliance on anecdotal evidence and suggest a more nuanced perspective is needed.
TikTok reports that service is being restored for U.S. users after a widespread outage on Tuesday evening prevented many from accessing the app, logging in, or refreshing their feeds. The company acknowledged the issue on its social media channels and stated they are working to fully resolve the remaining problems. While the cause of the outage is still unclear, TikTok assures users their data was not compromised during the disruption.
Hacker News users reacted to TikTok's service restoration announcement with skepticism and concern about data security. Several commenters questioned the veracity of TikTok's claim that no user data was compromised, highlighting the company's ties to the Chinese government and expressing distrust. Others discussed the technical aspects of the outage, speculating about the cause and the potential for future disruptions. The overall sentiment leaned toward cautious pessimism, with many users predicting further issues for TikTok in the US. Some expressed indifference or even support for a ban, citing privacy concerns and the potential for misinformation spread through the platform. There was also discussion around the broader implications for internet freedom and the potential for further government intervention in online services.
Summary of Comments ( 222 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43724941
Hacker News users discussed Kagi Assistant's public release with cautious optimism. Several praised its speed and accuracy compared to alternatives like ChatGPT and Perplexity, particularly for coding tasks and factual queries. Some expressed concerns about the long-term viability of a subscription model for search, wondering if Kagi could maintain quality and compete with free, ad-supported giants. The integration with Kagi's existing search engine was generally seen as a positive, though some questioned its usefulness for simpler searches. A few commenters noted the potential for bias and the importance of transparency regarding the underlying model and training data. Others brought up the small company size and the challenge of scaling the service while maintaining performance and privacy. Overall, the sentiment was positive but tempered by pragmatic considerations about the future of paid search assistants.
The Hacker News post titled "Kagi Assistant is now available to all users" (linking to a blog post about Kagi's new AI assistant) generated a moderate amount of discussion, with several commenters expressing interest and sharing their initial experiences.
Several users praised Kagi's overall approach, particularly its subscription model and focus on privacy. One commenter specifically appreciated Kagi's commitment to not training their AI model on user data, seeing it as a refreshing change of pace from larger tech companies.
There was a discussion around the pricing, with some users finding it a bit steep while acknowledging the value proposition of a more private and potentially higher-quality search experience. One user suggested a tiered pricing model could be beneficial to cater to different usage needs and budgets.
Several commenters shared their early experiences with the assistant, highlighting its strengths in specific areas like coding and research. One user mentioned its proficiency in generating regular expressions, while another found it useful for quickly summarizing academic papers. Some also pointed out limitations, noting that the assistant was still under development and prone to occasional inaccuracies or hallucinations.
The conversation also touched upon the competitive landscape, comparing Kagi Assistant to other AI assistants like ChatGPT and Perplexity. Some users felt Kagi had the potential to carve out a niche for itself by catering to users who prioritize privacy and are willing to pay for a more curated and less ad-driven experience.
A few users expressed concerns about the long-term viability of smaller search engines like Kagi, questioning whether they could compete with the resources and data of tech giants. However, others countered this by arguing that there's a growing demand for alternatives that prioritize user privacy and offer a different approach to search.
Overall, the comments reflect a cautious optimism about Kagi Assistant, with users acknowledging its early stage of development while also expressing appreciation for its unique features and potential. Many commenters indicated a willingness to continue using and experimenting with the assistant to see how it evolves.