Google to Upgrade Assistant With AI Features

According to an internal email made public by news outlet Axios, Google intends to supercharge its Assistant with generative AI technologies similar to those of its own chatbot Bard and rival ChatGPT.

Google will simultaneously support the original Assistant version as well as its AI-powered equivalent. The email, signed by Google Vice President Peeyush Ranjan and Director of Product Duke Dukellis, reveals that Google has already started to integrate AI into its Assistant’s mobile version.

As part of the Assistant’s AI revamp, Google is introducing some organizational changes, including merging teams for greater “speed and focus.” These changes will result in cutting “a small number of roles within the team.” Google hasn’t revealed the exact number of affected job positions. Axios reports that out of the thousands who work on Assistant, the reorganization will impact dozens of employees.

Google has yet to reveal details about the features of its generative AI-powered Assistant. One of the potential new capabilities could be answering questions using data from across the web. Like chatbots Bard and ChatGPT, Assistant will most likely engage in natural conversations. Google might use its conversational AI system LaMDA (Language Model for Dialogue Applications) to make its Assistant behave in a more intelligent human-like way.

Google expects that the new AI-powered Assistant will dramatically change how consumers, developers, and Google’s own employees interact, use, and benefit from the tool. Google could also open APIs to enable third parties to integrate Assistant across their products and services.

Ranjan and Dukellis ended their email on a high note. “We remain deeply committed to Assistant and we are optimistic about its bright future ahead.”

A few months back, the company enriched its search experience with new AI features.

Google is determined to win the AI race against rival Microsoft and other tech giants. Since earlier this year, it has introduced an array of AI features across its products and services.