With the rise of platforms like ChatGPT from OpenAI and, more recently, Bard from Google, among others, we have begun to wonder what will happen to current voice virtual assistants that have been with us over the past years. Weeks ago, we learned that Apple is working on its own model colloquially known as AppleGPT, and it remains unknown what will happen to Siri.
Months ago, a report from The New York Times stated that chatbots are taking the place of virtual assistants because they have not evolved enough.
Google is already working on improving its voice assistant. According to an internal email sent to Google employees on Monday, as reported by Axios, the search giant is already working on a deep revision of its voice assistant. The email highlights that the new version will feature functions powered by generative artificial intelligence technologies, and mobile device users will be the first to notice these improvements.
The initial idea is to combine new approaches with old ones, so users would not experience a completely renewed service from scratch. Instead, they will notice a significantly improved service.
In addition, as part of this initiative, Google is also reorganizing the teams working on the Assistant. The email implies that this reorganization will also involve a “small amount of layoffs,” which, according to the publication, means the elimination of dozens of jobs.
In the email, Google’s Vice President, Peeyush Ranjan, and Product Director, Duke Dukellis, express optimism regarding the future of the Assistant, stating:
“We remain deeply committed to Assistant and are optimistic about its bright future ahead.”
Google is not the only tech company reviewing its own virtual assistant. Amazon is also working on the “reboot” of Alexa. As for Google, it is still unknown how the Assistant’s update will be materialized in terms of capabilities and functions. However, it is clear that it will involve a deep revision that will affect both developers and end consumers.
For more information, please visit Axios’s article.
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