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Changes we're making to Google Assistant

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Re: Changes we're making to Google Assistant

#291

Post by Noumenon72 »

_dain_ wrote: post #180
Noumenon72 wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's just faster to say "OK Google, navigate to work" than pulling out a keyboard and opening apps. Even though for some reason I still can't time when Google is going to start listening after all these years, and have to repeat myself a lot. I think it was fine-tuned for American voices at first and got worse when expanded worldwide.

why don't you know the way to work?

Because I got to where I am by saying "restaurants near me" or "ice skating near me" and I don't know the way back. Also when I'm in a different state for a few weeks I sometimes set "work" to the place I'm staying.

Re: Changes we're making to Google Assistant

#292

Post by wildrhythms »

Workaccount2 wrote: post #37
peeters wrote: post #21

Another step in Android's steady progression of become less and less useful hands-free. It's incredible to me that my experience with my Nexus One in 2010 was better than it is today with a Pixel 7. The fact that it arbitrarily decides to not recognize some contacts on some days. The fact that it can't handle me spelling out a street name when it insists on replacing the street name that I'm saying with something com…

Google needs to toss Sundar and get a competent CEO who can forcefully smash the org back into line. Google has turned into these little micro clusters of ideologies and functional philosophies, leading to a horrifically fragmented mess of google branded products. All which come loaded now with end-of-life anxiety as google just farts out products that seem to dissipate just as fast. The fact that most google apps fu…

I think upper management at big tech thinks having these internal warring factions somehow creates better products. What I hear from friends in FAANG is the VPs and directors don't even know what they're supposed to be working on most of the time.

Re: Changes we're making to Google Assistant

#293

Post by WirelessGigabit »

afavour wrote: post #30

To me this highlights the core failure with all these voice-driven UIs: you have absolutely no idea what is possible and what isn't. Discoverability is zero, which makes big changes like this even more disruptive. I've already decided that I'm done with Google's smart assistant stuff in any case. I have a Google Home with a screen in my kitchen and the most-used feature (aside from just existing as a photo frame) was…

I think in general integration is the biggest issues with these voice assistants.

I want to use Microsoft ToDo for my tasks. Why? I use Outlook everywhere. I don't want have to keep track of tasks somewhere else.

I'm looking forward to the EU forcing companies to allow more integrations.

Re: Changes we're making to Google Assistant

#294

Post by jacooper »

HarHarVeryFunny wrote: post #52
jacooper wrote: post #25

TBH all Classic voixe assistants are terrible, they should be replaced with any of the mainstream LLM models we have.

To me the problem isn't lack of language understanding - it's more lack of integration with useful actions, although LLM support would certainly help with feature discovery and flexible invocation of actions. Presumably Google Assistant is on it's way to being replaced by ChatGPT with plugins, although these would need access to phone APIs to do local stuff.

True, but the assistant needs to be actually good to do such things, it isn't good enough now.

Re: Changes we're making to Google Assistant

#295

Post by steelframe »

Rebelgecko wrote: post #262
steelframe wrote: post #232

I once interviewed someone working in the Google Assistant org. His job was to build technology that would detect "unusual sounds" that the microphone picks up while awaiting a "Hey Google" prompt. I went home from that interview and threw my Google Home device in the trash.

Are you talking about the (opt in) accessibility feature where you can get visual notifications when your doorbell rings and things like that?

Based on what I learned in that interview, there are more classifications of sounds that the product detects. Only a subset of those classifications are surfaced to the customer as part of the product.

Re: Changes we're making to Google Assistant

#296

Post by allarm »

afavour wrote: post #277
nf3 wrote: post #247

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who in their right mind would bring this kind of intrusive technology into their home, right into their most intimate space? I seriously don't get it. I mean what's wrong with keeping a pen & paper shopping list on your fridge?

In what world is your kitchen your most intimate space?

Anything inside my house is the intimate space. I block the “smart” devices on the router firewall level so that they cannot call home - and here in this thread dozens of people use those spying devices that listens to you and to your family members and send this information to who knows where - this is just mind boggling to me. To each their own for sure, but using “smart home” devices made by corporations is absolute insanity in my head.

Re: Changes we're making to Google Assistant

#297

Post by allarm »

afavour wrote: post #286
swalling wrote: post #283

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The one where you actually have meaningful and personal conversations with your partner and family in the kitchen. You know, like a human. Also a lot of people rent studios and one bedrooms or otherwise have open floor plans.

I’m not denying that personal conversations happen in the kitchen. But the most intimate space? That’s pure hyperbole. Not to mention I think the paranoia about these home assistant devices is overblown. Do you use a smartphone? In your intimate kitchen? ? It has just as much capability to listen to you.

> Do you use a smartphone?

We have a saying that loosely translates to “If the barn burns down, so does the house”. The meaning is that it’s not really wise to let the house burn down if the barn is burning.

Re: Changes we're making to Google Assistant

#298

Post by swalling »

afavour wrote: post #286
swalling wrote: post #283

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The one where you actually have meaningful and personal conversations with your partner and family in the kitchen. You know, like a human. Also a lot of people rent studios and one bedrooms or otherwise have open floor plans.

I’m not denying that personal conversations happen in the kitchen. But the most intimate space? That’s pure hyperbole. Not to mention I think the paranoia about these home assistant devices is overblown. Do you use a smartphone? In your intimate kitchen? ? It has just as much capability to listen to you.

You’re making an argument of false equivalency. Anyone who has used Siri can tell you that its listening capabilities are vastly overstated. There is a reason they make smart speakers and don’t just leverage your phone, despite the fact that almost everyone with a smart speaker has both.

Re: Changes we're making to Google Assistant

#299

Post by afavour »

swalling wrote: post #298
afavour wrote: post #286

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m not denying that personal conversations happen in the kitchen. But the most intimate space? That’s pure hyperbole. Not to mention I think the paranoia about these home assistant devices is overblown. Do you use a smartphone? In your intimate kitchen? ? It has just as much capability to listen to you.

You’re making an argument of false equivalency. Anyone who has used Siri can tell you that its listening capabilities are vastly overstated. There is a reason they make smart speakers and don’t just leverage your phone, despite the fact that almost everyone with a smart speaker has both.

What if I’m using Google Assistant on my phone and home assistant? What’s the meaningful difference?

Re: Changes we're making to Google Assistant

#300

Post by afavour »

allarm wrote: post #296
afavour wrote: post #277

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In what world is your kitchen your most intimate space?

Anything inside my house is the intimate space. I block the “smart” devices on the router firewall level so that they cannot call home - and here in this thread dozens of people use those spying devices that listens to you and to your family members and send this information to who knows where - this is just mind boggling to me. To each their own for sure, but using “smart home” devices made by corporations is absolu…

Do you use a smartphone?
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