My dad uses Google Maps, and he mentioned that it seems to be getting worse. Like, giving him directions that are obviously worse than alternatives. Has anyone else here experienced this?

  • Death_Equity@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    Google/Waze will volunteer users to take alternative routes to scout out ways around congestion. It can be a better route, but you are the guinea pig, so you can get the short end of the stick.

    There also is learned driving habits that may inform routing choices.

    • bulwark@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      That’s pretty interesting about the scout cars.Is there any sort of indication thats what they’re doing? I will say given Google’s track record I wouldn’t put it past them to intentionally route traffic near where their paid advertiser’s money comes from.

      • Death_Equity@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        No indication except for knowing the area and being sent a strange way that doesn’t make sense to you.

        The routing is ambivalent to advertising money. The driving data they sell informs where advertisers put money. Horse, then cart; not cart, then horse.

        • Crashumbc@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          So far… I can easily see some MBA wanting to add that “feature”. They have your driving history, they could easily route someone with Starbucks stops past more Starbucks for a fee.