According to an internal email reported by Axios, Google Assistant is pivoting towards a generative AI model. The Assistant team leads are reported to see significant potential in exploring what a supercharged Assistant powered by the latest large language model (LLM) technology would look like, and have outlined several organizational changes needed to achieve this.
The move suggests that Google has been studying the potential advantages of implementing this technology and is eager to adopt similar advancements shown by other companies. The change in their "vision" is expected to unfold over the coming months.
While LLMs are used to power various chatbots and assistants, there is yet to be definitive proof that this technology represents a practical advancement for the field. Services like Assistant, Alexa, and Siri have primarily been used for simple interactions, such as requesting traffic updates or finding nearby restaurants.
It's unclear whether integrating a more sophisticated AI model will genuinely enhance the user experience. For instance, users asking simple queries might not be interested in responses informed by complex AI models. However, the adaptability of LLMs in tracking conversation threads can prove useful.
The shift towards a generative AI model may be seen as Google preparing for a future where the AI capabilities can handle both simple queries and more complex tasks. This move indicates Google's strategy to stay ahead in the AI field, ready to incorporate advanced capabilities as and when required.
