Etsy to bring AI into its search with latest acquisition

Etsy’s looking to make the online shopping on its platform just a bit easier with its latest purchase. The design and craft marketplace bought Blackbird Technologies, a startup that specializes in developing algorithms that can help Etsy boost its search feature. The acquisition could bring things like natural language processing, analytics, and image recognition.

Financial terms of the deal haven’t been disclosed but all members of the team (a lean 10 people) will be coming onboard to Etsy. And since Etsy will be using their tech, any clients they may have won’t get access to the API anymore. This new purchase can also help keep its competitors at bay and give a better experience for its shoppers.

Source: TechCrunch

Google to hold event on October 4, possibly to unveil new phones

Google has a big product launch coming up on October 4 and a teaser video that announces the event seems to suggest upcoming devices. As you see above, the clip shows a search bar morphing into a silhouette of a smartphone. What’s absent is the usual Nexus name but this seems to back the many reports from the past that Google plans to drop the Nexus name and exchange that with the G logo you also see in this video. Earlier this year, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said they wanted to be “more opinionated about the design of the phones” and they would “add more features on top of Android on Nexus phones.”

These upcoming Google devices have been called Pixel X and Pixel XL, two new smartphones that HTC will make with 5-inch and 5.5-inch models, respectively. Not much is known yet about these but we should hear more in the coming months.

Source: The Verge

Update on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 at 12:30PM by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

We're going to be live at the Canadian Google event on the 4th. This is apparently a huge Google announcement that might encompass new Google-made smartphones, tablets and the anticipated 4K Chromecast. Whooop!

Magnificent Seven and Twitch Online Gamer Epic Showdown

With The Magnificent Seven starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt out in theaters next Friday, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, Columbia Pictures and Twitch, the world's leading social video platform and community for gamers, have teamed up to create an epic showdown featuring seven of the top Counter-Strike: Go online players. Fans can join in on the action as these seven gamers test their skills as Saviors vs. Bandits through a special Western-themed map.

With this event, Twitch is broadcasting the first ever "Counter-Strike: Go" exhibition game with seven of the most-followed players in the company's history.

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TravelLog: Winsome Whistler makes for a delightful Summer driving destination

Text and Photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

One of the perks of being a journalist is that sometimes you get to travel. In my case, most of my work trips take me to California, New York City, Chicago and the inevitable Las Vegas. It's rare and very special to be sent to a Canadian location, but thanks to GM Canada's various drive programs, I've seen and experienced the best that the Quebec countryside has to offer and was delighted by Victoria, BC's awe-inspiring ecotourism. 

Last month GM took various journalists and influencers to Whistler, B.C. to get acquainted with GMC's new line of Sierra vehicles. Arriving at Vancouver airport, I was paired up with 680 News’ Tim Dimopolous, who took the first leg of our 90-minute drive. Tim used to live in Vancouver and gave me a lot of insight on how the city has changed through the years, he also cued me into when I should get ready for some breathtaking sceneries as we weaved out of downtown traffic into the vast and impressive coastal roads. 

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