Google AI blog:
Today we announce Google Duplex, a new technology for conducting natural conversations to carry out “real world” tasks over the phone. The technology is directed towards completing specific tasks, such as scheduling certain types of appointments. For such tasks, the system makes the conversational experience as natural as possible, allowing people to speak normally, like they would to another person, without having to adapt to a machine.
You can jump to that page and click on examples of Google Assistant using Google Duplex to make phone calls, interact with real-world people.
But the best thing to do is jump to this Verge page and watch the video of Google CEO Sundar Pichai actually running those demos. It’s incredible.
I’ve encountered two waves of thinking about this. On one hand, there’s the thinking that robots are coming for our jobs, that this technology will displace human assistants, human call centers, and that we’ll have an even larger wave of junk calls to deal with.
But on the positive side, consider this tweet:
https://twitter.com/SteveStreza/status/993950092309676032
Well worth considering the good that can come from this technology.
Also worth noting that it is 26 days until WWDC.
Sure there are positives, but all I can think about is that this tech is going to further erode what ‘the truth’ is.
Yes, this will indeed displace human jobs. Without oversight, tech-weenie neolibertarians will sideline anyone.
Having all too often been one of the people at the other end of that line, I will be very curious to see how this rolls out in the real world.
I can see it being a Glass experience that see people being banned from establishments.
I mean, what do you do with a robocall now? If it’s your job to deal with it, you’ll find ways to “deal” with it.
BTW, as a reminder folks, never screw with people who make your food and drinks.
At the same time — if it really works? I mean, *really*, really works. That, and other Assistant improvements could be the “better mousetrap.”
We’re an all Apple home, and I basically never hear anyone asking Siri anything.
Sounds impressively convincing, but that name, Duplex —might want to rethink that.
i’d be happy if transcription was good enough that my voicemail looked like English.
Just like Visicalc put a lot of bookkeepers and accounting clerks out of jobs. Next time you work on an Excel spreadsheet, think about the carnage you create with every pivot table.
It’s impressive, but it will be interesting to see how consistent it is in wide usage.
I do not look forward to this taking over our world.
I’ll reserve judgement until it’s live. Remember how cool the real time translation feature of the Pixel Buds seemed on stage last year?
Watch the genesis of your new spam bot overlords.
I donno…the porn industry has always been a first mover with new tech. I don’t see why they’ll miss exploiting this one! (Yech.)
How many bodies will you leave behind tomorrow?
“Hi, this is HR. We’re calling to inform you that your position here at Google will no longer exist after the end of the month. Please —”
“Uh… what? I’m fired?”
“We prefer ‘streamlined’. Please respond to the email that our IT department sent you five minutes ago, and pick up the box provided for you in the mail room to pack your personal items. Thanks!”
Yeah, not to mention when telemarketers start copying this.