INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Media captionWatch: Google's voice assistant in action Google has unveiled artificial intelligence software that books appointments over the
phone on behalf of users by conducting voice-based conversations on their behalf.Chief executive Sundar Pichai said that Google Duplex would
launch as an "experiment" over the coming weeks.The facility was unveiled at the firm's annual IO developers conference.Experts have said
that if it works it could give the firm a major advantage over rival virtual assistants.Image copyrightGoogleImage caption
Google chief Sundar Pichai opened the developers conference in Mountain View, California
Pre-recorded demonstrations
played back to the audience featured the software first booking a haircut and then making a restaurant reservation by speaking to two human
employees.One of the cases involved Google Assistant coping with a worker who seemed confused by straightforward questions
The computer-generated voice sounded much more natural than the virtual helper had done in the past and included "ums" and other sounds
typically produced in human speech.At no point did it identify itself as a machine."Done correctly, it will save time for people and
generate a lot of value for businesses," suggested Mr Pichai.He added that initially, the software would be used to call businesses to
confirm their holiday opening times, and would then automatically update the information on the pages Google provides about them.Image
copyrightGoogleImage caption
The Google Assistant's voice-booking facility will only have a limited set of feature when
it first launches
"Hard to believe this was real," commented Ben Bajaran, an analyst at the consultancy Creative Strategies
after the demo."You cannot underestimate the value consumers will see in these voice assistants
"Apple cannot fall too far behind because this is the kind of thing I can see people switching platforms for."Other experts, however,
remarked that people would have to be convinced to trust the software if it is to be widely adopted.News and MapsGoogle also announced a new
version of its News tool.A Full Coverage feature will let users delve deeper into stories of their choice, providing headlines from
different "trusted" sources, QAs, social media posts and relevant timelines among other information.Unlike many of firm's services, the
content will not be personalised."Having a productive conversation or debate requires everyone to have access to the same information,"
Google said in blog that provides more detail.The tech giant also showed off new features being added to its Maps software.Image
copyrightGoogleThese included the addition of augmented reality graphics that overlay information onto camera views of the path ahead in
order to provide easier-to-understand directions than before.Cartoon characters are also being introduced to guide users which way to walk,
while tapping on restaurants and other select venues will now provide scores indicating how much a person is likely to enjoy a visit based
on Google's analysis of their past behaviour.Image copyrightGoogleImage caption
Google Maps will suggest how much
different individuals may like different restaurants
Google's augmented reality chief Aparna Chennapragada also described
work that had been done to improve the software's ability to know where phone owners are located."GPS alone doesn't cut it," she
explained."That's why we've been working on what we call VPS - visual positioning system - that can estimate precise positioning and
orientation [by using] visual features in the environment."'Careful and deliberate'The Google IO event comes a week after Facebook held its
own developers conference under the shadow of a data privacy scandal, which has prompted wider questions about the amount of personal
information being gathered and processed by the tech industry.Mr Pichai did not refer to the controversy directly, but briefly addressed
consumers' concerns."There are very real and important questions being raised about the impact of these advances and the role they will play
in our lives," he said towards the beginning of his presentation."So, we know the path ahead needs to be navigated carefully and
deliberately, and we feel a deep sense of responsibility to get this right."The firm dedicated a section of its opening presentation to what
it referred to as Digital Wellbeing technologies.These included the ability to schedule screen breaks on YouTube to encourage young users to
avoid spending too long on the app at a time.Parents also gain the ability to schedule when internet connectivity should be paused to some
or all of the devices being used in a home.Image copyrightGoogleImage caption
Android will soon allow users to see how
much time they are spending within different apps
And Android is to gain a new app dashboard that provides details about how
much time users have spent using different services over the course of a day
"We are delighted that Google has heard the call from stressed-out parents to create ways to limit and control their kids tech use and to
find a better balance in their own digital lives," Stephen Balkam, chief executive of the Family Online Safety Institute, told the
TheIndianSubcontinent.AnalysisImage copyrightGoogleBy Dave Lee, North America technology reporterWe've reached a tipping point in our use of
computers, a time when the number of apps trying to get our attention with notifications and updates is making us many of us feel
overwhelmed.That wasn't a mistake - many apps were aggressively designed to attract and lock in our attention
But maybe not for much longer.Much of Google's focus at IO this year is about what it dubbed Jomo - the "joy of missing out"
Any move to reduce screen-time - particularly of youngsters - seems a good idea.But you have to question whether the same companies that got
us into this mess can save us from it.Google's business is still about attention - and the company knows full well that the addictive nature
of YouTube won't be affected by a prompt saying "take a break".That said, therapists often say that acknowledgment is the first stage of
recovery, and Google's moves in the area could be appreciated by many
Other announcements included:Gmail will be able to automatically complete sentences by adding several words at a time based on information
collected about the userGoogle Photos will propose Suggested Actions, including sending copies of an image to people it recognises in a
shot, colourising black-and-white pictures, and converting photos of documents into PDFsGoogle Assistant gains six new voices, can be made
to encourage children to use the word "please", and can handle follow-up requests without the need to say "hey Google" each timeImage
copyrightGoogleImage caption
Google's smart speakers can now support more natural conversations
Android
continues to dominate the handset market.Google's operating system powered 85.9% of all smartphones sold last year, according to research
firm Gartner, marking a 1.1% gain on 2016.Furthermore, it accounted for four out of every five mobile app downloads, according to analytics
Google's own Play Store drove two out of every five smartphone and tablet app installations.Apple will host its own developers conference on
