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They have an assload of cash on hand and the singularity is coming at us like a freight train. I'd think they were drunk if they weren't snatching up everything relevant in sight.

> They have an assload of cash on hand...

I wonder if they managed to pay for DeepMind out of funds that are "stuck" offshore (i.e. earnings from outside the US that can't be repatriated without incurring a big tax bill).

Probably. Deepmind is a UK company based in London.

I never even considered that, probably very true.

"They have an assload of cash on hand"

Companies with excess cash are supposed to pay dividends and/or buy back stock.

I think it's debatable based on your view of a company's purpose: is it to serve its stockholders or is it to serve its customers?

Plus, as buffet teaches, its better to reinvest the dividends. Unless the shareholders think they can do better than the management, in which case they're free to divest.

Nest is available in every Home Depot, and fairly prominently. It has a product and it must have sales to some degree.

Deep Mind on the other hand...

Google isn't drunk-- it's just Buzzed. It will be fine to self-drive itself home.

Unproven to who? You?