Rio Akasaka
@rio.akasaka.org
Product manager on Google Maps driving + walking, and that little bit at the end that says you've arrived. I dream of a beautiful place in the mountains to call home. 日本語でもたまには書きます
📍Tokyo by way of Boulder and Zurich
📍Tokyo by way of Boulder and Zurich
Super proud of the work that went into building this. I learned so much about how to integrate AI thoughtfully and make it truly helpful and delightful. Can't wait to see how you use Gemini on your next Google Maps journey.
www.theverge.com/news/813588/...
www.theverge.com/news/813588/...
Google Maps taps Gemini AI to transform into an ‘all-knowing copilot’
“Hey Google, where am I?”
www.theverge.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Super proud of the work that went into building this. I learned so much about how to integrate AI thoughtfully and make it truly helpful and delightful. Can't wait to see how you use Gemini on your next Google Maps journey.
www.theverge.com/news/813588/...
www.theverge.com/news/813588/...
This is a fascinating map
November 5, 2025 at 4:16 AM
This is a fascinating map
So it turns out Halloween is the day grocery stores in Japan take the universal cue to change their in-store jingles to be Christmas themed and all I can say is TOO SOON
November 3, 2025 at 1:47 PM
So it turns out Halloween is the day grocery stores in Japan take the universal cue to change their in-store jingles to be Christmas themed and all I can say is TOO SOON
Just because you can does not mean you should
October 10, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Just because you can does not mean you should
I wonder how many transactions are lost with this one -- the default Enter keypress on my Visa OTP input form... opens a dialog to cancel the entire transaction 🤦
October 6, 2025 at 5:19 PM
I wonder how many transactions are lost with this one -- the default Enter keypress on my Visa OTP input form... opens a dialog to cancel the entire transaction 🤦
My most antisocial behavior is to return car share vehicles with driver seat configurations that make it impossible for the subsequent driver not to wonder what kind of misshapen person could have possibly driven the car before.
October 4, 2025 at 12:51 PM
My most antisocial behavior is to return car share vehicles with driver seat configurations that make it impossible for the subsequent driver not to wonder what kind of misshapen person could have possibly driven the car before.
It's a bold strategy, Cotton.
October 1, 2025 at 6:34 AM
It's a bold strategy, Cotton.
Always reminded never to be totally surprised at how good the Pixel captures imagery, even tricky things like fireworks
September 27, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Always reminded never to be totally surprised at how good the Pixel captures imagery, even tricky things like fireworks
I can't think of anything quite more American than thinking of new places to put cup holders
September 27, 2025 at 12:29 AM
I can't think of anything quite more American than thinking of new places to put cup holders
A big corp holding itself accountable _and_ recognizing the press for their role in uncovering the issue? Must be a particularly sunny day in Seattle. share.google/7VgEOE5zYigN...
Update on ongoing Microsoft review - Microsoft On the Issues
Brad Smith, Vice Chair & President, shared the below communication with Microsoft employees this morning. I want to let you know that Microsoft has ceased and disabled a set of services to a unit with...
share.google
September 25, 2025 at 11:38 PM
A big corp holding itself accountable _and_ recognizing the press for their role in uncovering the issue? Must be a particularly sunny day in Seattle. share.google/7VgEOE5zYigN...
No ma'am, 88F, 31C is not normal for end of September
September 25, 2025 at 12:09 PM
No ma'am, 88F, 31C is not normal for end of September
American grocery store experience: corn, corn, corn
Japanese grocery store experience: what is corn
Japanese grocery store experience: what is corn
September 24, 2025 at 7:40 AM
American grocery store experience: corn, corn, corn
Japanese grocery store experience: what is corn
Japanese grocery store experience: what is corn
Nature doesn't operate on a timetable.
September 23, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Nature doesn't operate on a timetable.
I have a hilarious situation with USPS where the package originates from Indiana headed to Maine but they seem to keep trying to deliver it back to some place in Indiana (maybe the origin?), which I suspect is due to how the address was written on the back? Anyhow, two weeks and counting...
September 13, 2025 at 11:55 AM
I have a hilarious situation with USPS where the package originates from Indiana headed to Maine but they seem to keep trying to deliver it back to some place in Indiana (maybe the origin?), which I suspect is due to how the address was written on the back? Anyhow, two weeks and counting...
Since when are unskippable YouTube ads 1 minute long
September 11, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Since when are unskippable YouTube ads 1 minute long
I certainly did not agree on most things with the man, but I firmly believe no one should be killed for what they say or believe.
September 10, 2025 at 9:03 PM
I certainly did not agree on most things with the man, but I firmly believe no one should be killed for what they say or believe.
What a payday for Oracle folks but these are just projections no?
September 10, 2025 at 4:11 AM
What a payday for Oracle folks but these are just projections no?
I might eat my words, but $KLAR at $40 seems a bit overpriced www.rioleo.org/klarna.html
September 10, 2025 at 3:03 AM
I might eat my words, but $KLAR at $40 seems a bit overpriced www.rioleo.org/klarna.html
Guess which large metropolitan city does not have a single place that will fill up a nylon balloon with helium unless you buy the balloon from the store. Guess.
September 8, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Guess which large metropolitan city does not have a single place that will fill up a nylon balloon with helium unless you buy the balloon from the store. Guess.
Holy crap this email looks like phishing / spam if there ever was one
September 5, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Holy crap this email looks like phishing / spam if there ever was one
Remind me never ever to rent a CX-90 ever again. It drives and sounds like a tank, wobbles like a whale, guzzles gas like a Hummer, has the turn radius of a hippo.
September 1, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Remind me never ever to rent a CX-90 ever again. It drives and sounds like a tank, wobbles like a whale, guzzles gas like a Hummer, has the turn radius of a hippo.
This is brutal. It makes you wonder what intentions Cognition had from the getgo. share.google/d8TCKOW32Rxb...
Three weeks after acquiring Windsurf, Cognition offers staff the exit door | TechCrunch
Cognition is also laying off 30 employees. Those who don't take the buyout are expected to work 80+ hour weeks.
share.google
August 6, 2025 at 2:27 AM
This is brutal. It makes you wonder what intentions Cognition had from the getgo. share.google/d8TCKOW32Rxb...