Now that I/O is over, Google announced some amazing strides in their use of Artificial Intelligence being further implemented in a lot of their services. I mean, it was already there but now we're getting conversational. This may cause for some concern for some many of you.

In pretty much all movies, they depict a future where machines take over or try to (whether literally or in a sense) like Terminator, The Matrix, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Age Of Ultron, and so forth. After a while when computers reach AI status, they usually turn on its creators - us.



Last week, Google unveiled their new Assistant features which acts as a more evolved version of Google Now w/ a voice for 2-way conversations for voice search + automation. Followed up by the announcements of Google Home (their version of Amazon's Echo speaker) and Allo (new messaging service that learns your habits the more you use it). Both of these are powered by the new Assistant. A lot of their more newer features are made possible thanks to the company acquiring the AI company DeepMind back in 2014.

So before we even get to Cyberdyne + T-800 status, they have a lot of info on you already. In case you haven't thought about it, you've given Google access to many parts of your life w/ email, photos, birthdays, etc. But in their favor, they always ask for permission (for the most part).

Keep in mind, Google's approach to AI at its current state is more so to assist rather than do everything for us. Like directions, reminders, recognizing faces in photos, smart responses in messages/emails, and such.  So we're there yet but they're definitely doing some things that let us know they're getting close to achieving a lot more.

 

So at the current point in time, we are not at Skynet yet but getting there, though. I am OK w/ that me. But 6 weeks, 6 months, 6 years from now my views can change. Hopefully, it doesn't get to the point where folks are trying to blow up Google servers to prevent being enslaved by our new robot masters. *Fingers crossed*

What're your thoughts on it?  Should no one company have all of this power or it's not that serious?   Sound off.  

Categories: Features