In the last few days, Google has let me down three times.
First, I tried to buy some photos. Google Photos said I could pick them up at the local Walmart. Unfortunately, the Walmart had a fire and that section was closed. Didn’t they have some system to ensure the order was received?
Second, I was looking for a restaurant that served Peking Duck. Google showed a local restaurant as open for sit down eating, but it was only open for carry out. It may be on the restaurant to update such things, but the bottom line is the same. What I saw on Google was wrong.
Third, I wanted to get Mrs. Crowhill some cinnabons for her birthday breakfast. Google said the store was open until 9:00. I got there at 8:04 and they were closed. This was not only a failure in data, but customer service. They should have sold me something anyway.
Curious…on average…how often has Google got it right for you over years of use?
I’m skeptical of my ability to put a percentage on such a thing, but these examples stood out because my impression has been that Google’s been pretty reliable.
The thing is, self-reported data like that is notoriously unreliable. Let’s say, for example, that Google is wrong 1 in 50 times. You hardly notice, because it’s rare. But real-world data is clumpy, and 1 in 50 doesn’t mean you can’t have 3 errors in a row — which you do notice. There’s been no change in “reliability percentage,” it just feels that way.
Google is likely reliable but not infallible. If the user population exercised that perspective, it probably wouldn’t be so notable when Google didn’t live up to their expectations. It is indeed true…Google knows doesn’t know everything….but knows a lot of things.