SadaNews – What if you no longer had to search long in your email to book a follow-up appointment with your doctor, or type on a small keyboard to send emails while heading to work?
This is the future that “Google” and other tech giants envision, where AI agents could soon execute tasks on our phones without the need for continuous instructions, potentially giving us more time to do other things.
The latest “Pixel” smartphones announced by “Google” on Wednesday come packed with features designed in this direction. A new light will appear on the back of the “Pixel 11 Pro” when “Gemini” is processing a task, while a new feature in the “Android” system called “Halo,” set to be released later this year, will allow users to see the progress of the AI agent in carrying out a specific task.
These features come at a time when “Google” and “Apple,” which run their platforms on billions of smartphones worldwide, are competing for dominance in our digital lives, while also facing increasing competition from “ChatGPT.”
“Google” Anticipates a Different Future for Phones
Samir Samat, head of the “Android” ecosystem at “Google,” stated that the company typically considers how consumers will use their phones in about three years when planning versions of “Android.”
Thus, the features announced by the company today provide a glimpse into “Google’s” vision of how artificial intelligence will change smartphones in the coming years.
Samat explained to CNN that “Google’s” vision for “Android” currently envisions allowing users to express their goals or what they want to achieve, after which the system can autonomously execute the task.
However, growing public concern about the social and economic impacts of AI highlights the risks facing the future of this technology, especially since the technology is still far from being able to carry out the complex tasks that Samat envisions.
Nevertheless, “Google” is betting on this future.
Samat said: “I see many people, including myself, busy with their phones trying to get a lot done. If you could give that time back to people, five minutes a day, or 10 minutes, or 30 minutes, just imagine what they could do with that time.”
Using Phones Less
The days when a user has to navigate between multiple apps to accomplish a single task may soon be numbered.
Samat provided an example, saying that an AI agent might one day be able to review notes from a doctor’s appointment, communicate with the insurance company to understand coverage, and then book an MRI appointment.
Currently, “Android” cannot execute this scenario, but Samat is pushing the system, which powers over 70% of smartphones globally, towards making phones less reliant on what he described as “fine management” by the user.
The back of the “Pixel 11 Pro” will light up when “Gemini” processes a request or sends a response, and “Google” hopes this will help users to talk to the virtual assistant without needing to hold the phone to ensure that the agent is listening to them.
“Google” Promotes Voice Interaction
Tech giants are preparing for a future where talking to devices becomes a more common part of our daily lives.
As part of this shift, “Google” is launching a new tool called “Rambler” on “Pixel 11” devices. The company announced the tool in May.
“Rambler” processes speech, cleans it up, and converts it into text or an email, removing stuttering and repeated expressions like “um” and “like,” along with other verbal habits.
A Race Between “Google,” “Apple,” and “OpenAI”
The release of the latest “Pixel” phones from “Google” aligns with a broader trend in the smartphone industry towards AI agents.
“Samsung,” one of the largest smartphone manufacturers in the world by market share, is collaborating with “Google” to widely integrate “Gemini” into the software of its devices.
“Apple” intends to launch an enhanced version of “Siri” later this year, claiming that the new assistant will be able to perform tasks across apps and utilize personal information when providing answers.
Additionally, “OpenAI” launched a major update to “ChatGPT” last month, making conversations with it feel more natural.
Do Consumers Trust AI?
On the other hand, consumer caution regarding AI is increasing.
Despite the rising use of AI-based chatbots, the majority of Americans expect this technology to have a negative impact on society, according to the “Pew” Research Center.
Another study conducted by “Gallup” and Bentley University revealed that 79% of Americans do not trust companies to use AI responsibly.
It remains unclear whether “Google’s” technologies will fulfill their promises or whether consumers will indeed spend less time on their phones thanks to them.
Samat remarked, referring to AI: “It’s just a word that has come to mean many things.” He added: “Instead of talking about technology, I think one of the things we’ve focused on more is… how does it actually help you?”.