Tag: Google Assistant
Tech Digest daily roundup: Online safety bill comes to Parliament
The government is to introduce its long-awaited Online Safety Bill in Parliament on Thursday. The bill is intended to tackle a wide range of harmful online content, such as cyber-bullying, pornography and material promoting self-harm. Social networks could be fined or blocked if they fail to remove harmful content, and their bosses could be imprisoned…
Zap-Map announces voice features for EV charging
Zap-Map, which helps EV drivers find their nearest charging points, has announced a free voice-activated function on Google Assistant. Available on Android and iOS mobile devices, Google Home and in-car using the latest version of Android Auto, Zap-Map uses natural language processing to provide voice responses to customers’ commands such as ‘find a charger nearby’ …
Google Assistant can now book cinema tickets for you
The Google Assistant can help UK users find and book cinema tickets using only voice commands for the first time, the technology giant has announced. Google’s virtual assistant has been added to the Chrome web browser on Android smartphones and can now guide users through tasks with only minimal contact with their device required. The…
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…