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Microsoft Buys AI-Powered Scheduling App Genee (thestack.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the artificial-intelligence dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Stack: Microsoft has announced that it has completed its acquisition of artificial intelligence-based scheduling app Genee for an undisclosed amount. The app, which was launched in beta last year, uses natural language processing tools and decision-making algorithms to allow users to schedule appointments without having to consult a calendar. Prior to the acquisition, Genee supported scheduling across Facebook, Twitter, Skype, email, and via SMS. From September 1, Genee will close its own service and will officially join Microsoft, supposedly the Office 365 team. Microsoft believes the addition will help it "further [its] ambition to bring intelligence into every digital experience."

28 comments

  1. Schedule an appointment without a calendar? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Last time I tried that I scheduled a bowling outing with by buds on my anniversary. Not smart. I'll stick to checking a calendar first.

    1. Re:Schedule an appointment without a calendar? by jellomizer · · Score: 2

      I think Microsoft will first need to improve its Exchange Calendars first to allow better booking ability. I get way too many emails asking about my availability.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    2. Re:Schedule an appointment without a calendar? by hsqueak · · Score: 1

      Most of the time I find those people never bothered to look, or haven't discovered "new" features like the Scheduling Assistant.

  2. Now.. by fred911 · · Score: 1

    If the could only find someone with an OS genee, they'd be all set.

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    09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B - D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0 45 5F E1 04 22 CA 29 C4 93 3F 95 05 2B 79 2A B2
    1. Re:Now.. by Afty0r · · Score: 1

      Yeah, their OS is never going to take off ...

  3. And that's the end of that.... by Bearhouse · · Score: 4, Insightful

    As the innovative, entrepreneurial founders will soon leave in the face of crushing politics and bureaucracy, while what could have been a helpful cross-platform tool (for those with zero clue about privacy) will be crippled to "work" only with MS products...

    1. Re:And that's the end of that.... by swb · · Score: 4, Funny

      Microsoft, where innovation goes to die.

      And in Office 2018, a new feature will be enabled by default that will automatically destroy your calendar based on a Bayesian analysis of your email content.

    2. Re:And that's the end of that.... by Rob+Y. · · Score: 1

      Hard to imagine Microsoft couldn't have developed this capability on their own. And if it's going to be MS products only, then they didn't need to worry about buying market share - since they already own the Exchange market. So, unless there's something truly innovative about this company's tech (doubtful), or they really want a cross-platform product (also doubtful), it looks like Microsoft might really have bought them to take a cross-platform product off the market - and if so, sucks.

      Then again, they might want to suck gmail or yahoo mail users into exchange calendaring while keeping Google's calendar from implementing something similar before Microsoft could...

      --
      Posted from my Android phone. Oh, I can change this? There, that's better...
    3. Re:And that's the end of that.... by chispito · · Score: 1

      As the innovative, entrepreneurial founders will soon leave in the face of crushing politics and bureaucracy

      That is what happens to most startups after acquisition. The ping pong table, beer in the fridge, and T-Shirts all have to go.

      --
      The Daddy casts sleep on the Baby. The Baby resists!
    4. Re:And that's the end of that.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ... and so many other advances!

      Thanks MS

  4. Are we really too dumb to cope with calendars now? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Next can you make an app that reminds me which way to face on the toilet? I have trouble with that sometimes.

  5. Intelligence into every digital experience? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Like a rectal exam? Genee, schedule an appointment.

    1. Re:Intelligence into every digital experience? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Microsoft version of intelligence experience is likely related to "secret information that a government collects", not the positive one.

    2. Re:Intelligence into every digital experience? by vel-ex-tech · · Score: 1

      Nope, sorry, your request has been flagged as sexual harassment by Cortana, and this incident has been reported!

      I would rather have a butler, personally. I don't need some asshole AI playing fucking identity politics and reminding me that I'm an inferior, incomplete assigned male who must be constantly re-educated about just how awful being a woman is.... Because I could have no possible way to understand how people treat you when they think you're a woman.... No siree! None whatsoever, you bathroom rapist! Get back to being a sex slave! That is your only purpose in life!

      The Penis is evil! The Penis shoots Seeds, and makes new Life to poison the Earth with a plague of men, as once it was. But the Gun shoots Death and purifies the Earth of the filth of Brutals. Go forth, and kill! Zardoz has spoken.

    3. Re:Intelligence into every digital experience? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, I always end up regretting it when I forget to take my meds, too. I feel you, bruh.

  6. scheduling by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well folks, Bob has finally achieved sentience.

    We knew it would happen eventually.

  7. Re:Are we really too dumb to cope with calendars n by bjwest · · Score: 1

    Have you met the average person? Some of them will have difficulty with calendars. Now remember that the majority of the population is even less intelligent.

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    --- Keep the choice with the user..
  8. Gene E. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They got the name wrong.

  9. Re:Are we really too dumb to cope with calendars n by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I've met plenty of "average" (and below average) people, and I've yet to encounter a single one that didn't know the days of the week or how to tell time that wasn't either legitimately brain damaged or still sleeping in a crib.

    Offloading basic cognitive functions to a phone isn't a sign of intelligence, no matter how much they slap the word "Smart" on product names.

  10. they have actual AI now? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    create artificial intelligence

    use it to drive a calendar / appointment app

    at least they didn't have it making toast.

  11. Just the code and only the code by ITRambo · · Score: 1

    Since it's Microsoft buying them, more than likely they want a snippet of the code, and the coders. The rest may just sit and rot since Microsoft is spinning too many plates while juggling them.

  12. Re:Are we really too dumb to cope with calendars n by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

    Here's one for you, you're very welcome.

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    Ezekiel 23:20
  13. Another company down the drain by OneHundredAndTen · · Score: 1

    That has historically been Microsoft's modus operandi - acquire a company and then proceed to destroy it. As usual, consider yourself middle-fingered, Microsoft.

  14. Re: Are we really too dumb to cope with calendars by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's not that we're dumb, we just want it to be easier. It'd be far easier to say "Okay Cortana, book me a two hour meeting with Bob someday next week after lunch when we're both free" than it is to manually load up the calendar an manually check for a time slot in which both people are free.

  15. Re:Are we really too dumb to cope with calendars n by bjwest · · Score: 1

    I've met quite a few adults that can't tell time with an analog clock, some that even think a quarter of an hour is 25 minutes. I'm pretty sure they still teach how to use analog clocks in school, and it's not rocket science. If they reach adulthood without knowing how to use a clock, how many of them can tell you what day is three weeks from today?

    Offloading basic cognitive functions to a phone isn't a sign of intelligence, no matter how much they slap the word "Smart" on product names.

    There is a difference between lack of intelligence and ignorance, and only one of them can truly be overcome.

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    --- Keep the choice with the user..