Google Explains How AI Helps It Fix Inaccurate Business Hours

pcmag.com:

How does Google Maps know when a particular business is open? It turns out that AI plays a pretty important part in making sure Google can provide accurate information to its users.

The company says it developed a machine learning model "that automatically identifies if business hours are likely wrong, then instantly updates them with AI-generated predictions," in response to the constantly fluctuating hours of operation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This model relies on the Popular Times data Google collects to determine when a given business is the most busy. If the model notices that a lot of people visit a location when it's supposed to be closed, well, it's probably a sign that Google Maps has faulty information.

Google then relies on algorithms that gather information from nearby businesses, the business in question's website, and Street View images to estimate the actual hours of operation. In some countries it also uses an AI program called Duplex to call the business owner directly.

"With this new AI-first approach," Google says, "we’re on track to update the hours for over 20 million businesses around the globe in the next six months - helping you know exactly when your favorite store, restaurant or cafe is open for business."

All of this effort to determine business hours demonstrates how well Google's technologies work together. Google Maps has access to location data, historical information, and Street View images; Google proper has much of the internet as well as numerous AI projects at its disposal.

But the company isn't entirely self-sufficient. Google says that it's also piloting a program in the US through which it will use data from "third-party imagery partners that already gather roadway imagery