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Google introduces a new way to search that combines images and text into one query
Earlier this year, at Google’s I/O annual developer conference, the company introduced a new AI milestone called Multitask Unified Model, or MUM. This technology can simultaneously understand in
Apple launches a new iOS app, ‘Siri Speech Study,’ to gather feedback for Siri improvements
Apple recently began a research study designed to collect speech data from study participants. Earlier this month, the company launched on the App Store a new iOS app called “Siri Speech Study&#
Android announces six new features, emphasizing safety and accessibility
Android shared information today about six features that will roll out this summer. Some of these are just quality of life upgrades, like starring text messages to easily find them later, or getting c
Apple adds two brand new Siri voices and will no longer default to a female or male voice in iOS
Apple is adding two new voices to Siri’s English offerings, and eliminating the default “female voice” selection in the latest beta version of iOS. This means that every person setti
Cortana wants to be your personal executive assistant and read your emails to you, too
Only a few years ago, Microsoft hoped that Cortana could become a viable competitor to the Google Assistant, Alexa and Siri. Over time, as Cortana failed to make a dent in the marketplace (do you ever
Apple is turning Siri audio clip review off by default and bringing it in house
The top line news is that Apple is making changes to the way that Siri audio review, or “grading,” works across all of its devices. First, it is making audio review an explicitly opt-in pr
Google adds playable podcast episodes to search results
Google is making it easier to find and listen to audio content specific to your search interests, with playable episodes surfaced in results that start rolling out today. Playable podcasts will show u
Apple suspends Siri response grading in response to privacy concerns
In response to concerns raised by a Guardian story last week over how recordings of Siri queries are used for quality control, Apple is suspending the program world wide. Apple says it will review the
Google’s new version of Android Auto focuses on Assistant
Google is starting to roll out an updated version of its in-car platform, Android Auto, that aims to make it easier and safer for drivers to use. The version, which was first revealed during Google I
Google Fit comes to iOS
Google today announced that Google Fit, the company’s fitness tracking app that launched on Android back in 2014, is now available on iOS. It definitely took Google a while to bring the app to i
The Google Assistant on Android gets more visual responses
About half a year ago, Google gave the Assistant on phones a major visual refresh. Today, the company is following up with a couple of small but welcome tweaks that’ll see the Assistant on Andro
Apple’s Shortcuts will flip the switch on Siri’s potential
At WWDC, Apple pitched Shortcuts as a way to ”take advantage of the power of apps” and "expose quick actions to Siri.” These will be suggested by the OS, can be given unique voice commands and w
This could be the Google Home Mini
There have been rumors for weeks about Google nearing the release of a smaller version of the Google Home. DroidLife just posted what it claims is the upcoming Google Home Mini. If true, the design sp
Nobody is going to ask Cortana to talk to Alexa
The future of conversational AI is not a league of anthropomorphic voice assistants that we address by name to handle our problems. We will not unlock our iPhones and ask for Alexa when we need to dim
New Apple ad does some voice-first education with The Rock and Siri
How do you teach people to use an interface that’s invisible? That’s been the marketing communications problem for Apple since the day Siri became the first big mass-market voice assistant.
Microsoft unveils a Cortana-powered thermostat
The latest addition to the smart thermostat space is a product that includes Microsoft’s Cortana virtual assistant. We’re all familiar with the rise of the internet-enabled thermostats, th
Samsung’s Bixby assistant finally comes to the Galaxy S8 and S8+ in the US
After much delay, Samsung has begun rolling out its Bixby smart assistant to users in the U.S. The company said today that an update will allow owners of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ to gain voice capabilit
Microsoft Maluuba is teaching machines to ask questions
Microsoft Maluuba, the research team of PhDs that Microsoft acquired back in January, has been hard at work exploring the nexus of machine learning and question generation with the aim of delivering a
Google updates its search app, makes your personalized feed the main screen
Google’s flagship mobile application is getting a big makeover today, with a focus on making it easier to separate the things you need to know about – like upcoming appointments or flights
Ozlo AI assistant is the new underdog filling the void left by Viv
On the heels of Samsung’s acquisition of Viv just a week ago, a new AI assistant has risen into the spotlight and is jockeying to fill the shoes of its now well-known rival. Ozlo, the Greylock-