Google Search’s new ‘Ask for me’ calls local businesses for availability, pricing
Following Daily Listen in early January, Google is launching a new Search Lab called “Ask for me.”
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Google Duplex powering ‘where to watch the World Cup near me’ searches
While Duplex on the Web is going away, Google is still committed to the voice version of the conversational technology that can make human-sounding calls and maintain real conversations. Google’s latest use of Duplex is behind “where to watch the World Cup near me” searches.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle focusing Duplex on voice calls, shuts down web version that changed passwords, more
“Duplex” is Google’s umbrella term for technologies that can handle tedious, multistep tasks on your behalf. The phone version was the most well-known application of this technology, and Google is now shutting down Duplex on the Web.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Assistant in Chrome, powered by Duplex, can now auto-change stolen passwords
At I/O 2021, Google announced that Assistant would help you change stolen credentials. This Google Assistant-branded, Duplex-powered capability for changing passwords is now rolling out in Chrome for Android.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 6 can transcribe phone tree menus with ‘Direct My Call’ & show toll-free ‘Wait Times’
With the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, Google is following up last year’s “Hold for Me” with new “Direct My Call” and “Wait Times” capabilities in the Phone dialer app.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Assistant rolling out ‘Fast checkout’ shopping, powered by Duplex on the Web
While Duplex is most known for calling on your behalf using a human-like voice to make appointments, the technology is also being used to speed up online interactions. Some Google Assistant users are now seeing Duplex on the Web help with “Fast checkout” when shopping.
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Google Assistant bringing Duplex restaurant bookings to smart displays, expanding Guest Mode
After launching to users in 2018 and expanding to online orders earlier this year, Google Duplex on Assistant is making its debut on Nest smart displays in the near future as another feature also expands to more users.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Assistant and Duplex can now help you change stolen passwords in Chrome
With Duplex, Google wants to handle tedious, multi-step tasks on your behalf. The most famous example is making a phone reservation, but the Assistant-adjacent technology is also used for walking through online forms. Google Assistant and Duplex can now help you change stolen passwords step-by-step in Chrome.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Assistant can now find/ring silenced iPhones as Duplex expands to online food orders
Google today announced a handful of new Assistant features, while making others more widely available. The biggest lets iPhone owners find misplaced devices using Google Smart Displays and speakers as Assistant Routines availability expands.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle looking to bring web Duplex to shopping and food ordering
At today’s Search On event, Google provided an update on the state of Duplex. This includes how the conversational technology has been deployed amidst the pandemic and work on shopping and ordering capabilities for Google Duplex on the web.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Duplex can now book your next haircut in the US
Years after wowing with AI-powered real-time chat and holding features, Google’s Duplex is now allowing some users in the US to book haircut and barbershop appointments without you ever needing to make the call yourself.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 5’s new ‘Hold for Me’ uses Google Duplex to distinguish between recorded and live humans
One of the most impressive software features to debut with the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 is “Hold for Me.” The Google Assistant will stay on the line until an actual human being comes on for you to directly interact with.
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Google leveraging Duplex to check and update store inventory
Google Duplex’s flashiest capability lets it book appointments on your behalf. However, Google is also leveraging the Duplex conversation technology to update store hours, and now check inventory.
[Update: Not user-facing] Google Duplex is now rolling out to the UK, Australia, and Canada
After a few years almost being entirely exclusive to those in the United States, AI calling service Google Duplex is now rolling out in the UK, Australia, and Canada.
Google Duplex launches on the web, starting with movie tickets
At I/O 2019, Sundar Pichai announced that Google Duplex was “moving beyond voice” and coming to the web. After publicly testing in late September, Duplex is officially launching today as “Google Assistant in Chrome” to help you buy movie tickets.
Google starts testing Duplex on the web as ‘Assistant in Chrome’
People today associate Google Duplex with Assistant making phone calls on their behalf. For the company, it’s the umbrella term for training AI to accomplish tasks and save you time. Announced at I/O 2019, Google Duplex on the web is now in testing.
Google Duplex requires helping hand for 15% of all calls, 25% start with human caller
There is no doubt that Google Duplex was the star of the show at I/0 2018. The AI-powered calling assistant was so good, that you could be forgiven for thinking it was all a parlor trick masquerading as real tech. Well, Google has revealed now that Duplex is out in the wild, in many cases it is an actual human that makes your dinner reservations as the AI-caller often needs a little help.
[Update: 4 new states] Google Duplex expands to 43 US States, more Android devices
One of the most impressive tech demos Google has ever shown off was the reveal of Google Duplex back at I/O last year. While we figured the tech was years from rolling out to consumers, the company has just announced that Google Duplex is now rolling out in the majority of the United States for Pixel owners.
Google Duplex for web to help you complete tasks in Chrome for Android
At Google I/O 2019, Google has announced that Duplex is moving from being a voice-only service to being able to complete web-based tasks using Google Chrome on Android and information from your calendar and Gmail.
Google Duplex rolling out to non-Pixel, iOS devices in the US
Get ready, the ability to get your Google Assistant to call your local eateries to make reservations is now rolling out to non-Pixel devices and iOS in the United States. Google Duplex is now slowly being pushed to devices that don’t have the Google logo embossed upon them.
Here’s how to opt-out your business from automated Google Duplex calls
If you run a business in the United States, you might start getting some automated calls from Google users starting this week to reserve tables or appointments. That comes from the creepily-accurate Google Duplex technology. If you’d prefer your customers not to use this new feature, here’s how to opt-out from Google Duplex calls from the Assistant.
Google Duplex now available for Pixel owners in ‘select cities,’ here’s what it looks and sounds like [Video]
The biggest “wow moment” of Google I/O earlier this year was the reveal of Google Duplex. The feature instantly impressed the crowd and brought up tons of intriguing questions. Now, it’s finally starting to roll out, at least to Pixel owners in select cities.
Roundup: All the Google AI-powered software features launching with Pixel 3
As we noted last night, the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL deliver delightful hardware that is noticeably more refined than last year. Beyond the physical devices, a key part of Made by Google is the “AI + software” experience, with the Pixel 3 debuting a handful of new Google AI-powered features at launch.
Google Duplex being tested in call centers as ethical concerns reportedly slow development [Update]
Update: Google has reached out to clarify that Duplex is currently only focussed on consumer applications and not being tested by enterprise customers. The full statement is below: