Google is reportedly working on an AI update for its popular voice assistant, Google Assistant, according to a report by Axios. The update is expected to incorporate Large Language Model (LLM) generative AI technology, similar to that used by Bard and ChatGPT, to generate responses for users.
The news, although not entirely detailed, indicates that development is underway. However, the timeline for the release remains a mystery. What’s clear is that the team behind Google Assistant is undergoing a restructuring. Google has yet to comment on the matter when approached by The Verge.
The email, which sparked this revelation, came from Peeyush Ranjan and Duke Dukellis, both department heads and product directors responsible for Google Assistant. The commitment to Google Assistant was emphasized in the email, stating that they are “deeply committed.” Despite the development of Bard, a generative AI chatbot, Google continues to invest in its well-known voice assistant.
This development comes at a time when AI systems like ChatGPT and Bard are making significant strides. The older generation of voice assistants, which started about a decade ago, has largely failed to meet the high expectations set for them. Amazon’s Alexa, which is also expected to receive an AI update, reportedly incurs a loss of around 10 billion US dollars per year. Also, Microsoft has been rigorous with its AI assistant, introducing Copilot into almost all product categories.
Apple, on the other hand, has been relatively quiet in the current AI race. However, internal reports suggest that the company is also working on similar solutions. Media reports have mentioned a speech model titled Apple-GPT, which is expected to benefit Siri.
