When it was announced the Steelers were going to be playing the Saints in Paris, we knew we couldn’t miss it. Last year we had a great time in Dublin, so it was an easy sell to go to France for this game. While there were some great upsets last week in the FBS, and I saw none of them. Instead, I was at Belushi’s, a sports bar in Vienna, Austria watching some under 20 soccer match.
It was the first time in our trip that I longed to be at home in my man cave. Belushi’s was roughly the size of my man cave only with far worse TVs. It had wall-to-wall soccer games which I only sort of expected as Google AI had presented this as a perfectly suitable place to watch American sports. Indeed with a name like Belushi, it was a reasonable expectation. It was not the first time that Google AI would fail us on this trip.
The bar was not that crowded, and I asked if they could put on the Indiana – Ohio State game. First, they said all the TVs were in demand for soccer. Based on the blank stares of the local denizens, they were not rabid fans of anything being shown. I have seen more excitement at the DMV. The bartender recognized my look of disbelief and agreed to check at halftime to gauge true interest levels.
We grabbed a small table next to a couple of beer pong tables where two American students were playing – badly. I went back to the bar to order food when the bartender said their subscription carries no college football. No Sky Sports? Nice work, AI.
We ate and bailed as quickly as we could. I did have my laptop, but I still had not figured out to effectively spoof my location via VPN. Google TV shut down my attempts to watch my subscription with Swiss watch precision. Sigh – I followed the games on the phone and through the texts of my friends. It was not great.
AI European Vacation
This brings me back something even less satisfying – the accuracy of Google AI. I have been using it for a few months now to plan rough itineraries. This European trip was a true test and it has failed – spectacularly.
With over 30 foreign countries under my belt and a few years living in the UK, this was not my first rodeo in Europe. My split of travel was roughly 75% work and 25% leisure. It is an important distinction because travel on the company card is significantly less stressful. It is usually business/first class with hired cars/taxis. Traveling on my dime is a more frugal affair with extensive use of local transit. It is very much Del Griffin and Neal Page: Planes, Trains and Automobiles.
But, we were way out of practice for navigating European cities, hence the heavy amount of pre-planning via AI. The tool seemed great, creating personally curated itineraries with transportation, hotels, and restaurants right down the times and locations. Unfortunately, a lot of it is crap.
Time and time again, we found ourselves scratching our heads as to why we are eating at this tourist trap or why are staying at this sauna of a hotel (in late October!). Even more egregious were the gaps in critical information. We nearly missed our train to Vienna because our itinerary had a 5:30pm departure when it was actually 3:30pm. It was an error that I caught exactly one hour before the true departure.
Worse yet, when it did do something right, like picking out an excellent local Austrian restaurant, it botched the corresponding Underground location. After all day seeing the sights of Vienna, my wife was none too happy to have a thirty-minute walk to our restaurant.
The problem with AI is that it has no BS filter yet. The algorithm tends to not discriminate for the massive amount of disinformation in the internet. It can’t recognize when a restaurant’s reviews are more a function of bots than a true local assessment. Case in point, we met a former resident of Vienna in the train lounge. When we discussed our sightseeing plans, she immediately knocked two or three things off the list as overrated tourist traps.
The other thing is that AI doesn’t seem to be able to cohesively revise information for current events. Our Budapest bath choice would have been different had I known the 50 meter pool was closed for renovation. Also, I would have upgraded our train tickets from first to business class had I known that only the latter had free meals and drinks. Instead, it was Power bars and tap water for most of ride.
It’s like this. If you knew nothing about football and you asked AI about the most effective offenses in college football, AI might kick out the Wing-T with Red Grange running the ball. Statistically true, but not the current reality. Not knowing any better, imagine you set up your game plan relying on this antiquated scheme. Any college defense would shut that down immediately, Well, anyone but WVU or Colorado State. I have seen paper bags stronger than that bunch.
There is one positive from this whole situation though. I’m a little less worried about AI taking over the world and more worried about the day-to-day advice it gives. A European sports bar showing college football – I effing knew better.
Who do I like?
Last Week
I will say this though; AI probably could do better picking games than me. It was my first 0-4 week. I don’t know if not watching the games made it better or worse.
- Northwestern won a tight one at Michigan State, but they were trailing most of the game. I had this one written off early.
- It was the worst kind of result when UMass went to OT. The only way I could lose was if they got blanked 7-0 in extra time, which, of course, they were.
- The Bison were supposed to be a lock. Instead, another half point loss when North Dakota only wins by fourteen.
- The Lobos hosed me too. They win by 11 against Hawaii. Unfortunately, the line was 14.5. Brutal results across the board.
Other really quick thoughts with no basis other than Youtube videos.
- Yep, Notre Dame got screwed. I didn’t mind the pass interference call. I didn’t love it, but it is a judgement call. The clock snafu was terrible though.
- Tough loss for the Hoosiers but not entirely damaging either. They still have a shot.
- Auburn beating Georgia in Athens is not something I saw coming. It is wide open in the SEC. Just wild, really wild.
- FSU – Miami goes to 2OT. Yeah, this was a bad weak to not be able to watch college football..
This week’s bad picks will be posted Thursday or Friday.
Tree