| Formation | March 4, 2008[1] |
|---|---|
| Type | Contract research organization |
| Location | |
| Website | www |
Yahoo! Labs[2] served as Yahoo!'s research arm, aiming to develop research in technologies to be used within the company. Yahoo! Labs includes approximately 200 research scientists and engineers.
Yahoo! Labs was headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA; it had three additional locations worldwide: New York, London, and Haifa. Yahoo Labs Barcelona was closed in early 2015.
On February 17, 2016, Yahoo! announced that Yahoo! Labs was being replaced with Yahoo! Research.[3]
In July 2005, Usama Fayyad (Yahoo!’s Chief Data Officer), Prabhakar Raghavan, Andrew Tomkins, Kevin Lang and other employees who were working for the former "Yahoo! Research Labs" organization formed the new research team. Raghavan was named as Head of Yahoo! Research. Ronald J. Brachman, having finished a term as office director at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), joined as the head of worldwide research operations in early September. The team was soon joined by Andrei Broder and Ricardo Baeza-Yates.
Yahoo! Labs was formed in 2008 through a proposal by Ronald Brachman and Larry Heck from the "Yahoo! Search and Advertising Sciences Lab". The proposal combined the two labs into a single organization. In 2012, Ron Brachman took over as Head of "Yahoo! Labs" and also became Yahoo's chief scientist.
Yahoo! Labs delved into diverse and impactful research areas, each playing a pivotal role in advancing digital frontiers. Advertising science is a focus, aiming to unravel the intricacies of persuasion and audience captivation. Content understanding involves decoding the language of information, while data science extracts valuable insights from the digital realm. Image and video understanding broaden comprehension beyond pixels, enhancing the interpretation of visual content.[4]
Information Retrieval is a key domain, guiding the navigation through vast seas of data, making it accessible and manageable. Machine learning stands as a cornerstone, empowering computers to dynamically learn and evolve. Metrics and User Engagement serve as essential barometers, measuring success in the dynamic online landscape. Natural Language & Dialogue Understanding strengthens human-machine communication, fostering seamless interaction.
Optimization and feedback control fine-tune systems within Yahoo Labs for peak performance, ensuring efficiency in technological processes. Scalable Systems form a robust foundation, facilitating digital expansion and accommodating growth seamlessly. User Modeling and Personalization contribute to tailoring experiences, crafting personalized digital journeys within the diverse research spectrum of Yahoo Labs.[4]