Google maps finds routes for individual users that rank high in the preference ordering specified by minimizing distance, expected time given traffic, or some other simple metric. The process for finding the route for any particular individual is isolated from the process for finding the route for other users; the tool does not consider the effect of giving a route to user A on the driving time of user B. Such a system is possible to design and implement, but merely giving Google maps data of where a particular class of users are driving in real time, and having those users request routes in real time, does not change what algorithm Google maps will use to suggest routes, even if another algorithm would help it better optimize driving time, the purpose for which its current algorithm was programmed. Google maps is not meta enough to explore alternate optimization strategies.
(And if the sufficiently meta human engineers at Google were to implement such a system, in which other users were systematically instructed to make sacrifices for the benifet of Google cars, the other users would switch to other mapping and routing providers.)
in which other users were systematically instructed to make sacrifices for the benifet of Google cars
I agree, but this is only one possible scenario. It is also likely that a fleet of Google cars would benefit the overall traffic patterns by routing them away from congested areas. In such a way, even giving priority to Google cars might provide an overall benefit to regular drivers, due to reduced congestion.
In any case, my point was less about the current implementation of Google Maps and more about the possibility that combining tools can lead to parasitic agentization.
Google maps finds routes for individual users that rank high in the preference ordering specified by minimizing distance, expected time given traffic, or some other simple metric. The process for finding the route for any particular individual is isolated from the process for finding the route for other users; the tool does not consider the effect of giving a route to user A on the driving time of user B. Such a system is possible to design and implement, but merely giving Google maps data of where a particular class of users are driving in real time, and having those users request routes in real time, does not change what algorithm Google maps will use to suggest routes, even if another algorithm would help it better optimize driving time, the purpose for which its current algorithm was programmed. Google maps is not meta enough to explore alternate optimization strategies.
(And if the sufficiently meta human engineers at Google were to implement such a system, in which other users were systematically instructed to make sacrifices for the benifet of Google cars, the other users would switch to other mapping and routing providers.)
I agree, but this is only one possible scenario. It is also likely that a fleet of Google cars would benefit the overall traffic patterns by routing them away from congested areas. In such a way, even giving priority to Google cars might provide an overall benefit to regular drivers, due to reduced congestion.
In any case, my point was less about the current implementation of Google Maps and more about the possibility that combining tools can lead to parasitic agentization.