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AI likely to make voice assistants smarter

Aug 2, 2023
Google aims to “supercharge” Google Assistant with the same tech that underlies ChatGPT, which could boost communication.
Programs like Google Assistant, Amazon's Alexa and Apple's Siri still have problems understanding exactly what people say, but artificial intelligence may improve their functionality.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

Will AI help humanity? Americans aren't sure, study finds

"There is a lot of skepticism" about artificial intelligence, Vox reporter says.
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Should a machine have to tell you if it's a machine?

May 23, 2018
Can a robot make a dinner reservation? Google is working on it, but should they?
The Shadow Robot company's dextrous hand robot holds an Apple at the Streetwise Robots event held at the Science Museum's Dana Centre on May 6, 2008 in London, England. 
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Will Apple introduce a smart speaker to rival Amazon’s Echo and Google’s Home?

Jun 5, 2017
Apple’s highly anticipated developer conference starts today. Among the new iPad and MacBook iterations likely to be revealed, one completely new product could be announced — a Siri-controlled smart speaker to rival Amazon’s Echo or Google’s Home. Apple could be late to the game on this one, but with its massive ecosystem, it has the […]

LeVar Burton on "Smart House" and the rise of AI

Nov 11, 2016
He's best known for "Star Trek" and "Reading Rainbow," but in the '90s Burton directed an oddly prescient TV movie about how gadgets run our lives.
Ryan Merriman as Ben Cooper and Katey Sagal as virtual assistant Pat in "Smart House," directed by LeVar Burton.
Courtesy: Disney Channel

Microsoft's Siri: What took so long?

Apr 2, 2014
Microsoft unveils its version of a Siri device.

Voice recognition software's bilingual problem

Nov 26, 2013
Voice recognition software is more and more common on our devices, but if you're speaking with an accent or in two languages at once, you might be in trouble.

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Google speaks up on desktops and laptops

May 15, 2013
Google unveiled the next step in voice recognition technology today at its developers' conference. The race is on for computers to really understand us.

Siri, meet your new competitor, Google Now

Apr 30, 2013
Siri has some stiff competition in Google's Google Now, which just hit iPhone.

After FTC win, can Google keep up search success?

Jan 4, 2013
The Federal Trade Commission has decided that Google is not being anti-competitive when it promotes its own services in search results.