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Google’s new conversational AI could eventually undermine our sense of identity

verdict.co.uk

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Re: Google’s new conversational AI could eventually undermine our sense of identity

#71

Post by arbie »

joosteto wrote: post #55
fixermark wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you're expanding frustration at telemarketing to this technology, and I don't understand why. It's not an "autodialer;" it doesn't appear to have any kind of multicast capability.

Multicast may be useful when the hairdresser is busy at the requested time, and algorithm searches for an available option.

The optimum scenario is when the algorithm shops around while it is on the phone with barber#1 and discovers the only available time is suboptimal (but still above acceptance threshold). Sort of a "hold bird in hand while rummaging in bush" approach.

Re: Google’s new conversational AI could eventually undermine our sense of identity

#72

Post by onion2k »

MPSimmons wrote: post #64
21 wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Or the more immediate wake-up call that this tech will be used in malicious phishing attacks against your grandparents This one is quite scary. "Grandma, I'm stuck in Malta and people are after me, send me immediately 500 through Western Union" Or you get called by your boss: "I need you to urgently send this payment or our production factory goes down".

> grandma "Alright sweetheart, just tell me what the emergency phrase is"

Grandmas aren't especially well-known for their razor sharp opsec skills..

Re: Google’s new conversational AI could eventually undermine our sense of identity

#73

Post by rtkwe »

itpragmatik wrote: post #13

Not sure why Barber/Salon would not also use robot assistant built by Apple or Microsoft or some other non-Google company to answer the phone. It will be interesting to see two robots built by two different companies conversing with each other and agree (?) upon making an appointment.

> Not sure why Barber/Salon would not also use robot assistant built by Apple or Microsoft or some other non-Google company to answer the phone.

I think this will eventually happen but it is a harder tool to implement than requesting reservations. In making one most questions and responses from the restaurant are pretty constrained and are pretty simple. A bot for taking reservations has to be able to answer pretty much any question about the services available; menu, special requests, available services (eg: shampoo @ at a salon). Then on top of that businesses will probably require a high performance bar for their receptionist bot than a customer needs for an assistant bot just because a sub-par bot could drive people away without the business noticing.

Re: Google’s new conversational AI could eventually undermine our sense of identity

#74

Post by night815 »

leblancfg wrote: post #31

What struck me the most was the business decision from Google to have it make reservation calls, and not take them. Granted, the technical complexity between the two might be an order of magnitude, I don't know. They are purposefully "giving" it to millions of customers and rolling out features with time, instead of holding out for more research and actually selling a phone assistant system to businesses. I think thi…

The problem this is solving is that there are businesses with no internet presents. If they could get businesses to sign up for something like OpenTable this wouldn't be necessary.

Re: Google’s new conversational AI could eventually undermine our sense of identity

#75

Post by acobster »

The uncanny valley is really quite useful.

I have long suspected I might prefer a recognizably robotic voice over a convincingly human robot voice. Now that this is a very real possibility, I'm more convinced than ever. This article is a bit fluffy and overblown, sure, but concerns about machines passing the Turing test in everyday interactions are still valid.

AI is a tool, and we should be wary of placing it on the same level of agency as us (as this article arguably does in some ways), or we risk its artifice becoming invisible. An intentionally designed system becomes entrenched the moment people no longer see it as intentional.

AI is a mirror, and it will reflect the values we put into it. Do we value the minor comfort of a convincing illusion over the assurance that we know who/what we're talking to?

Re: Google’s new conversational AI could eventually undermine our sense of identity

#76

Post by MPSimmons »

onion2k wrote: post #72
MPSimmons wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> grandma "Alright sweetheart, just tell me what the emergency phrase is"

Grandmas aren't especially well-known for their razor sharp opsec skills..

That needs to change as much as anything else. We have to adapt, too. This can't be a unilateral thing. We need to change in response to the world around us, and if we don't, we won't survive.

Re: Google’s new conversational AI could eventually undermine our sense of identity

#77

Post by bsenftner »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #68
bsenftner wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Human stupidity is an endless resource that will never be exhausted.

If only we could base our economy on that, we'd be good until the heat death of the universe.

We actually do! We use the energy of stupid people to power reality TV and it was the fuel behind the Trump take over of the GOP.

Re: Google’s new conversational AI could eventually undermine our sense of identity

#78

Post by bsenftner »

throwaway84742 wrote: post #11
purple-again wrote: post #6

I agree with the author. Googles new appointment setting functionality is pretty cool but what if it gains the ability to reason. It will be able to start writing novels and putting writers out of business. It could start negotiating treaties with foreign leaders and inadvertently cause world war 3. I’m just not sure that Google thought through all the possibilities before unleashing the ability to make haircut appoi…

You forgot /s. Some HN readers may take this at face value.

Sadly, many general consumers would believe in this fantasy risk 100%.

Re: Google’s new conversational AI could eventually undermine our sense of identity

#79

Post by fixermark »

arbie wrote: post #71
joosteto wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Multicast may be useful when the hairdresser is busy at the requested time, and algorithm searches for an available option.

The optimum scenario is when the algorithm shops around while it is on the phone with barber#1 and discovers the only available time is suboptimal (but still above acceptance threshold). Sort of a "hold bird in hand while rummaging in bush" approach.

I can definitely see how that could be annoying, especially if the system killed a transaction mid-conversation with "Oh, I apologize; I found a better offer elsewhere. Goodbye."

So, y'know, they should probably not do that. ;)

Re: Google’s new conversational AI could eventually undermine our sense of identity

#80

Post by anshumanf »

toddmorey wrote: post #43
Androider wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It doesn't have to pass the Turing test to masquerade as you. The John Legend voice for Google Assistant was apparently made without hours of recordings. Companies like https://lyrebird.ai/ do a basic job of copying your voice with about a minute worth of samples (more obviously helps). I think it's entirely inevitable that at some point you will be able to customize the Google Assistant to use your own voice thanks…

This is spot on. The illusion doesn't have to be prefect, just convincing. Huge convenience factor to automation of communications like calls and emails, but it does break the simple mental contract we currently have that "this email was written by Jonathan" and "I'm currently talking to Jonathan on the phone." Not sure I'm looking forward to a continual game of "guess when it's a robot".

> Not sure I'm looking forward to a continual game of "guess when it's a robot".

Something that already happens on dating services, for example. And makes one cynical.

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