Google is set to give its virtual assistant software a boost with the addition of new generative artificial intelligence (AI) features. This move will bring Google Assistant closer to chatbots like Bard and OpenAI’s ChatGPT in terms of capabilities. The company has already started working on the new version of Google Assistant, beginning with the mobile version. Although there will be a reorganization of the Assistant team, the exact number of affected employees is still uncertain.
Peeyush Ranjan, the Vice President of Google Assistant, and Duke Dukellis, the company’s Product Director, are optimistic about the future of Assistant and remain deeply committed to its development. They stated, We remain deeply committed to Assistant and we are optimistic about its bright future ahead.
Google spokesperson Jennifer Rodstrom confirmed that the company is exploring ways to integrate large language models like ChatGPT into Assistant to enhance its functionalities. This development comes after Google’s recent update to its chatbot rival Bard, which enables the AI assistant to converse with users. Bard uses massive amounts of training data to generate human-like responses and can handle a wide range of queries, including summarizing texts and generating computer code.
Google’s decision to enhance Assistant is in line with the company’s report on AI’s transformative potential. According to the report, AI represents a profound technological shift that can turbocharge the UK economy, leading to an estimated annual growth of 2.6% and generating £200bn in additional revenues for public services.
While the economic impact of AI is promising, concerns about its impact on jobs persist. Professor Geoffrey Hinton, known as the godfather of AI, chose to resign from Google, citing fears that AI could be misused by bad actors. Hinton expressed concern regarding the prevention of harmful uses of AI, stating, It is hard to see how you can prevent the bad actors from using it for bad things… I console myself with the normal excuse: If I hadn’t done it, somebody else would have.
Google’s efforts to enhance Assistant reflect its dedication to staying at the forefront of AI technology. By incorporating generative AI features, Google aims to supercharge Assistant and provide users with an even better virtual assistant experience. As the development progresses, users can expect improvements in conversational abilities, more accurate responses, and enhanced overall performance.
