The AI-powered Google Assistant is available in smart home devices to some apps. This time, Google also wants it inside Android Messages texting app.
The company demoed this at the MWC 2019 in Barcelona, where Google draws attention with its colorful booth. Inside, the company provided seating, as well as treats that include a juice bar and a coffee shop.
For the latter, the idea is that visitors can "pay" for the drinks using the Assistant demo.
Having its Assistant inside Android Messages app is how Google wants to further embrace AI to better understand the context of users' anticipation.
The Assistant here, can understand chats, like when people ask to watch a movie or getting something to eat, by showing an information card into the conversation. This card can show, in this case, the movies that are playing nearby, or a restaurant suggestion in nearby locations.
This is like having a Google Search results laid inside chat conversations.
At the moment of introduction, Assistant for Android Messages only works with movies and restaurants. But the path is clear, as people could see how Google can expand this feature to other facets of daily life.
And the good thing about this feature is how natural Assistant can be.
Unlike the company's previous virtual assistant, Google Now, Google Assistant can engage in two-way conversations. This should enable conversation between users and the smart assistant, saving a lot of time if compared to when users look for information individually.
Since it's more real-time and fast, it should appeal those users who are lazy to just fire a browser and look for things on Google Search.
So here, Assistant inside Android Messages is convenient and unobtrusive.
Initially, Google Assistant for Android Messages has rolled out to users in 24 countries.
The Assistant feature borrows elements from Google Allo, the AI messaging app that Google killed in late 2018.
Here, if users use Google Assistant to send text messages, for example, a button will appear in the smart replies section of the app. In case the users tap on the button, the Assistant can ask a question and will give option to put the answer directly into the text messages thread.
For the time it is launched, the feature is limited only to English language.
And for privacy-concerned individuals, Google said that its Assistant won't read users messages.
The company said that only text created after tapping on the Assistant button button is sent to Google's servers. The suggestions generated by Google Assistant, are based on the analysis of what's available in the conversation thread.
Google does this using on-device AI to scan messages for topics like movies, restaurants, and the weather. Assistant will surface suggestions relevant to conversation just above the text field.
So if users receive a message from someone asking to go out to a restaurant, for example, they will probably see suggestions, like a pizza emoji with 'Yes' written next to it, or a button which will help users search for a restaurant.
In case users tap on the suggestion given, this is the time when the information is sent to Google.
For Google, this is a way to introduce users to its AI capabilities that has come a long way before becoming as smart as it is. Putting it forward to more people, also means that Google is wanting the robust AI engine to be a weapon more than capable for competing against Amazon's Alexa assistant, Google Assistant's most significant rival in the AI ecosystem for smart homes.