Google is set to launch its all new, intelligent digital assistant, Google Assistant, which would be featured on the company's latest devices including the Pixel phones. Considering the many ways in which it could revolutionize how artificial intelligence works for smartphone users, Assistant is being dubbed as Google's next big push.
At Google's recent hardware event where the Google Home, Google WiFi, and the Daydream VR were unveiled along with the new Pixel phones, one software feature seemed to rule the roost: Artificial intelligence powered Google Assistant.
Google Assistant seemed to be at the center of the event as Google CEO Sundar Pichai suggested, "In the decade to come, artificial intelligence will lead the way and Google Assistant will be your guide."
Personality-filled, voice-activated assistants are not a new thing. Apple brought Siri to multiple platforms first, and Microsoft has Cortana. Google, at the moment, has Google Now+ and Google Assistant.
As the moment, these two assistants operate on different platforms. While Google Now works from within the Google Android and iOS app, the AI-powered Assistant will be an integral part of Google's Allo messaging app, smart speaker Google Home, and the new Google's Pixel phones.
Experts believe that the two virtual assistants will merge into one soon as Google Assistant has already replaced Google Now as the home key press in Google Pixel phones.
To a regular person, Google Assistant is a mashup of Siri and a chatbot or just a fancy way to make Google searches in a conversational mode with an Intelligent System that knows a lot about you, Pichai explained.
"We envision Assistant as a two-way conversation, a natural dialogue between our users and Google to help them get things done in the real world," he said.
While the software can be used for complex situations, it also solves common daily dilemmas.