Besides getting six new voices, Google Assistant also showed that it was capable of performing a more complicated action – making a call and seamlessly interacting with a person over the phone. Using a new Google AI technology known as Duplex, Google demonstrated how Assistant was able to successfully set an appointment with a hair salon, all while sounding like eerily lifelike.
Throughout the call, it was clear that the receptionist on the other side was unaware that she was conversing with an AI assistant. What made it even more impressive was when the Assistant echoed back with a “Mm-hmm” when it was ask to hold for a moment.
Of course, not all conversations would go as smoothly as that. When asked to converse with someone a little less attentive to its questions, the Assistant was able to understand the context and nuances, and still manage to successfully get the information gracefully.
The feature itself is still experimental, but Google is hoping that this new application of its Assistant will help users to save time, while helping businesses to generate more value for themselves.
