Google is set to integrate generative artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities into its virtual assistant, further enhancing its ability to assist users in a variety of tasks. During the recent Made By Google event in New York, the tech giant announced its plans to leverage generative AI features from its Bard chatbot and incorporate them into Google’s virtual assistant. This integration aims to offer users personalized assistance with reasoning and generative functions directly on their mobile devices.
The key objective of this integration is to streamline user interactions with the virtual assistant by simplifying complex tasks. Users will be able to achieve more through a series of straightforward questions posed to the assistant, which will leverage generative AI to provide relevant responses and follow-up inquiries.
Sissie Hsiao, Vice President of Google Assistant and Bard, highlighted the potential of this approach, stating, “(A) whole task is done through a couple of simple questions that you’re asking your assistant, which is, we think, a very, very powerful concept.”
Google is not alone in its pursuit of integrating generative AI into its products. Several other tech companies, including Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook), Amazon.com, and Microsoft, have intensified their efforts in this direction throughout the year. The competitive landscape is driving innovation and the integration of AI technologies into various aspects of virtual assistant functionality.
The upcoming version of Google’s virtual assistant will come equipped with the ability to access a mobile phone’s camera and microphone. This capability will enable users to input images or audio to assist in answering queries, further enhancing the assistant’s utility and versatility.
It’s worth noting that Google’s generative AI integration will not include revenue-generating functionalities initially. The company is approaching this development as a learning phase to understand how to create a compelling user experience with generative AI.
“We want to learn how to make a great experience out of this,” explained the Google Vice President. Google plans to make this new software accessible to its trusted tester program in the near future, although a specific general release date has not been disclosed. The company is committed to making the enhanced virtual assistant available to users across different mobile platforms, including Android and Apple’s iOS operating system.
The integration of generative AI into virtual assistants is part of a broader trend in AI development, aiming to provide more natural and intuitive interactions between users and digital assistants. As technology companies continue to refine these capabilities, users can expect increasingly sophisticated and personalized assistance in various tasks, ranging from trip planning to email management. Google’s move in this direction reflects the growing importance of AI in shaping the future of digital interactions and user experiences.
