Tag: Google Assistant
Google launches £669 Pixel 4, Nest Mini and more
Google has taken the wrappers off its Pixel 4 smartphone, as the tech giant continues its bid to take on the likes of Apple and Samsung. On top of a Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, the firm also unveiled an update mini smart assistant device and revealed launch date details for its new gaming…
‘Alexa, help me find a job at McDonald’s’
People looking for a job at fast food chain McDonald’s can now start their application using Alexa or Google Assistant. The global chain is hoping to attract new staff with increasingly popular voice-powered assistants taking answers to a few basic questions such as name, job area of interest and location. With the Apply Thru skill…
NatWest trials voice banking with Google Assistant
Banking on your voice could become the new way to check accounts if a NatWest trial using the Google Assistant proves to be on the money. The bank is launching a trial using the voice-powered virtual helper, allowing customers to ask the Google Home smart speaker for details such as their bank balance or recent…
Amazon Alexa users ‘allowed to opt out of human reviews’
Amazon has given virtual assistant users the option to opt out of having human reviewers listen to their voice recordings. It has also pledged to provide clearer information on its recording review practices. However, the technology giant will not follow Apple and Google in suspending the practice of using human reviewers to analyse some recordings.…
Female-voiced AI assistants reinforce gender bias, claims UN study
AI virtual assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant reinforce gender stereotypes which portray women as “subservient” by relying on female voices, a UN report has said. The UNESCO paper criticised voice-powered digital speakers and devices for making it appear that women are “obliging, docile and eager-to-please helpers, available at the touch of a button…
Google I/O developer conference: all the key announcements
Google has revealed a string of software and hardware updates as the company set out its plans for the rest of 2019 at its annual I/O developer conference. Alongside new, cheaper Pixel handsets were a range of new technologies for its artificial intelligence programmes. Here is a look at the key announcements. Pixel 3a Siblings…
Gov.UK trials service on smart speakers
Information about about government services from Gov.UK - such as what is the minimum wage and when can I retire - is to become available via smart speakers including the Amazon Echo and Google Home. The Government Digital Service has created a trial project that will enable information from gov.uk to be accessed by asking…
Google apologises for not disclosing microphone in Nest Guard security device
Google has apologised to users of its Nest Guard home alarm system after admitting the presence of a microphone in the security device had not been disclosed. The technology giant said an “error” meant the microphone was not included in the specifications for the device, but it was “never intended to be a secret”. The…
CES 2019: This year’s highlights include a foldable smartphone and table tennis robot
The world’s first foldable-screen smartphone and a robot that teaches people to play table tennis are among some of the eye-catching attractions on display as this year's CES tech show. Martyn Landi reports from Las Vegas... More than 180,000 people are expected to visit during the four-day convention, which is hosting the latest gadgets from…
CES 2019: Google Assistant gets smarter with new interpretation and navigation tools
Google Assistant will soon be able to automatically check users into flights and reply to text messages from user voice commands, the tech giant has announced. The technology giant’s artificial intelligence-based virtual assistant is also to get an interpreter mode to help conduct conversations in dozen of languages using both audio and visual cues, Google…