Google has always surprised everyone with mind-blowing announcements and technologies – bombshell for those who are attached to it like body and soul. In the previous year, we had seen transition and growth in artificial intelligence assistants, hardware, and Android Smartphones. The goal was to make Google smarter as emphasized by Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google.
This year, Google I/O 2018, Annual Developers Conference, the plan was implemented with much of the changes, from offering new tools to developers to making their apps and services better.
What was the Google I/O 2018 all about and what major announcements were made, let’s have a brief overview.
1. Google Assistant Gets Smarter than Ever
Google has added six new voices to its assistant. It allows you to choose one in order to make the sound more like a real human and less robotic. Moreover, you don’t have to wake up the assistant every time with “Hey Google”. After the initial prompt, the Google assistant can recognize whether the conversation is still in progress and answer the questions without the wake word. In addition, you can ask multiple questions simultaneously.
Google is also deploying assistants into smart displays, aimed to improve surface visual information. By having a screen-bearing device, Google assistant can come up with juicy video if you ask for a recipe. Moreover, if you ask to change the temperature, Google will adjust the temperature on Nest Thermostat App.
2. Google Photos with Added AI Features
Google Photos is also on the verge of enjoying new features. The new feature will allow users to separate background from the subject, and also adding colors or turning the background black and white. It can revamp your older photos, even if there were no colors at the time when the picture was taken. All of these capabilities use Artificial Intelligence, while you are exploring your gallery. Photos will analyze your pictures and make recommendations for quick fixes.
3. Google Duplex Makes AI Sound Human
The biggest surprise and jaw-dropping moment of Google I/O 2018 came when Sundar Pichai played back a recording of Google Assistant calling a hair salon and making an appointment in a conversation that resembled like two humans talking to each other. There was no clue of a robotic voice or the salon personnel recognized they were talking to a robot. It clearly indicates the future of voice assistants and its potential.
4. Please Google Talk Politely
Just like any other machine, Google assistant responds you in a way you command it, preceded with “Ok Google”. However, the new feature “Pretty Please”, you need to add “thank you” and “please” in order to inspire kids to talk to assistant politely. This would likely help in the future when virtual assistants will be part of every home. Similar to the Amazon’s new release “Echo Dot Kids Edition”, the smart speaker aimed to teach your children manners at home.
5. Less Phone Usage with Android P
The new version of Android is intended to make your phone work for you. The adaptive battery feature foresees which app user will use at what time and saves the battery from draining by reducing app wakeups. The new version will allow you to wake up the apps you need based on your past behavior. Moreover, it features simplified gestures like showing up the rotation lock button when your phone is turned sideways.
The Android P as mentioned earlier is designed in such a way that you do not use your phone. The new dashboard tells you how much time you have spent in an app. “Shush”, a gesture in Android P turns your phone to do not disturb mode after you flip it facedown. While the “Wind Down” mode turns the app on your phone to grayscale after bedtime. The features can be experienced in beta mode on Google’s pixel phones but the official release will roll out later this year.
6. New Tools for Visual Search
Google intends that people spend more time on certain platforms. The Google Lens, which is a visual search tool, is now integrated into more than 10 Android phones and native camera apps. The lens makes it simpler to search the world around through your camera. In addition, the lens can also recognize words and even allows you to copy and paste it from a photo. The Style Match feature can help you find real-world objects on the web.
7. Augmented Reality in Google Maps
Most of the Google Maps user might know how it feels when you can’t figure out which direction you are facing on the map. Google has recognized the problem and offers augmented reality overlay on the map. It can project the direction over the real world, showing the user where to go by using their camera. The map will also come up with a personalized tab “For You”, using machine learning to spawn local recommendations based on your past behavior.
8. Smarter News with AI
Technology and news are an essential part of any developer’s conference in 2018. Google Answer, which is an upgraded version of “Google News”, comes with new AI personalized with “For You” tab that curates the content based on your past reading habits. Moreover, “Newscasts” brings the Twitter Moments and “Full Coverage” allows you to view single story covered by different sources. In addition, you can also subscribe to certain publishers of your choice on Google News.
