Google announced today, Wednesday, plans to add generative artificial intelligence capabilities to its virtual assistant. An executive from the company told Reuters that the AI will enable the assistant to perform tasks such as helping individuals plan a trip or follow up on emails, then ask questions. Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet, stated that it plans to incorporate features from its chatbot, Bard, into a new version of its virtual assistant with the aim of providing personalized assistance with logical and generative capabilities on mobile devices.
Google Vice President Cissy Hsiao and General Manager of the Google Assistant and Bard programs expressed in an interview with Reuters, "A whole task can be completed through a few simple questions you pose to your assistant, which we believe is a very powerful concept." Google and other tech companies are racing to integrate some form of generative AI into new or current products. Companies like Meta Platforms, Amazon, and Microsoft have intensified their efforts in this domain during the current year.
Hsiao added that the new version of Google Assistant will have access to the mobile phone's camera and microphone, allowing users to input images or audio into a large language model to assist in answering questions. She clarified that the release will not include monetization features, as Google is still in the "learning phase" regarding generative AI. The company stated that the new program will be available "soon" on its trusted testing program, but it did not disclose a release date. The company plans to release a version for Android and iOS devices from Apple.
