Techtalks – Google Duplex
Hello Everyone. It’s been a while.
A lot changed since I last posted.
My facebook page grew from 200 to 1200 likes. Thanks for that.
If you haven’t liked it yet, do it. The social media links are on the right side.
They finally gave me work at work and I became super busy, pulling off long shifts and 6 hours of commute.
But I got this wonderful opportunity to be at the prestigious Google I/O this year.
JUST KIDDING!!!
With all the work pressure, I completely forgot that there’s a Google I/O lined up.
Now, coming down to the main thing.
I saw a clip on my Instagram profile which I presumed to be a spoof where an AI-based assistant called a hair salon and booked an appointment for its client.
First reaction: That’s ridiculous. People are making anything.
Then came across the same clip 15 times again and I decided to take an in-depth look.
Result: Mind = Blown.
If you missed Google I/O this year like I did, you must be thinking that what kind of sorcery am I talking about.
It is Google’s latest mind-blowing achievement in the field of Artificial Intelligence.
Google Duplex.
Let’s start with answering one of the first things that popped into your mind.
What is Google Duplex?
According to Google, it’s an AI system for Accomplishing Real-World Tasks over the phone.
Breaking it further down for you guys, it’s the Google Assistant, making calls for you in the background, acting like a human.
Confused?
Watch the following video so that you get a little context of what I am talking about.
Despite being a very straightforward conversation, it was quite amusing that Google Assistant was able to accomplish that.
I am not sure if everyone is familiar with the Turing test, but if you’re, you might guess where am I heading to.
In 1950, Alan Turning developed or gave the theory about a test.
A test of a machine’s ability to exhibit intelligent human-like behavior.
How do we perform the Turing test?
It’s a simple process.
There are a total of 3 people involved.
2 participants, one human, and one machine.
and one Evaluator.
The evaluator is aware that one of the participants is a machine.
So, the evaluator will ask similar questions to both the participants and will try to decide which one’s a machine by evaluating their answers.
If the Evaluator was able to conclude that which one is a machine, the machine would fail the Turing test.
Back in the days, the test was strictly text-based as we didn’t want to make the machine play in a disadvantageous field due to its lack of ability to render speech.
Coming back to Google Duplex.
Will Google Duplex pass the Turing test?
There can be millions of failed conversations before that one successful conversation which they showcased during the I/O.
And no, I am not exaggerating by saying millions as the conversations was a result of years of machine learning and natural language processing.
I can’t even think about how much data must Google have processed before coming up with an AI which knows when to pause, when to say “um, hmm” and when to conclude the sentence in the most humane way possible.
That’s unbelievable and amazing. But even Google accepted that it was just kind of a prototype and the real thing wouldn’t be out of some time.
Now, coming back to the question.
If that was a random Turing test, Google Duplex would have passed with flying colors and a benchmark would have set for generations to follow.
But as Google didn’t mention anything about it, I am sure it didn’t pass the test.
Because if I was Google, I would have bragged about passing the Turing test as much as I brag about having the best smartphone camera.
Let’s talk about capabilities for a moment.
What can Google Duplex do for me?
Right now, Google Duplex is focused on small and medium scale industries and of course busy individuals.
If you’re a busy individual, who don’t want to make calls or don’t have time to make calls, it can make a call and talk on your behalf and get things done.
The video from Google I/O I posted above is a perfect example of the same.
Now, from industry’s perspective, it can automate your customer support system.
If someone would come and tell me that the person from the Salon was an AI as well, I wouldn’t be surprised at all.
As it is also a viable use of the Duplex.
But all this is still very far ahead in time.
Right now, what Pichai confirmed is that within a few weeks, they’ll be launching an experimental Duplex system.
The system will update the timings of the Restaurants or Clinics or any other thing whose timings are available on Google by making a call to them to confirm the timings.
That way, those small businesses don’t have to worry about taking thousands of calls for the same query by answering a single call and let Google do the rest.
This actually saves a lot of time and money for both the sides.
All We are hearing is the positive stuff!! Where is the negativity we urge??!!
I am a person who sees good in people. But even I am a little afraid of the possibilities.
A system speaking a flawless human language. Doesn’t that freak you out?
Because it should.
What Google is offering for the mankind is essential for the future we have always dreamed of but is it that safe?
Let’s take an example, John Legend recently joined with Google to give his voice to the Google Assistant.
And now, the Google Assistant can talk like a human!
Probably, someone can make a call saying that I am John Legend and cancel my bookings.
And people will believe that cuz the AI sounds exactly like John legend!
Spooky!
Similarly, what if one of the voice samples it has is mine and it develops a neural system and a brain of its own over time and soon it’ll come after me and my family from the future as I am sure my son is the only one who can beat the terminators and save us from the Judgement Day.
Joke’s aside, The fear from speaking machines is mostly given to us by Sci-fi shows and movies like Terminator or Star Trek or games like Halo.
What they showed might be one of the 1,40,00,605 possible scenarios Dr. Strange talked about in Avengers: Infinity War(Spoiler Alert) but for a machine to develop to that extent would be a miracle.
Conclusion:
Coming down to the conclusion, Google Duplex and the phone call they demonstrated made my day.
I am really looking forward to what it’s final form would be like and what more it’ll offer.
But if it’s going to be another Skynet equivalent situation, son, I want you to know that I love you and Google’s headquarters are located in Mountain View, California, United States where you’ll find the switch to turn that evil AI system off. (Need to stop with the pop culture references -_-).
We’ll talk about AI in a separate section some other day because there’s so much to talk about.
I have written about a little dumber AI, Amazon Alexa and the Amazon Echo Dot devices, home of the AI. You can go read that here.
If you have any questions or doubts, feel free to drop them in the comment section below. I will try to answer them as soon as I can.
See you in the next one.
Artificial Intelligence Avengers Google Google Assistant Google Duplex Machine learning Natural Language Processing Skynet Spoilers Turing test Ultron
16 Responses
Great presentation!
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You made it easy!
Hi Gaurav.
Thank you so much.
Yes, that’s what I am aiming to achieve. I believe that everyone wants to know that what’s happening in the world of technology but not everyone likes to keep words thrown at them, so, here at middleclassvstech, I try to keep things as simple as possible so that even a person from the non-technical background can understand and enjoy the technical advancements as much as a person with technical knowledge.
I am glad you liked it.
Hoping for your continuous support in the future as well.
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