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Google Opens Its Human-Sounding Duplex AI To Public Testing (cnet.com)

Posted by msmash on from the marching-forward dept.

Google is moving ahead with Duplex, the stunningly human-sounding artificial intelligence software behind its new automated system that places phone calls on your behalf with a natural-sounding voice instead of a robotic one. From a report: The search giant said Wednesday it's beginning public testing of the software, which debuted in May and which is designed to make calls to businesses and book appointments. Duplex instantly raised questions over the ethics and privacy implications of using an AI assistant to hold lifelike conversations for you. Google says its plan is to start its public trial with a small group of "trusted testers" and businesses that have opted into receiving calls from Duplex. Over the "coming weeks," the software will only call businesses to confirm business and holiday hours, such as open and close times for the Fourth of July. People will be able to start booking reservations at restaurants and hair salons starting "later this summer."

7 of 36 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Nope by DarkRookie · · Score: 2

    Also looks to use the Google app which is disable since it doesn't work unless you give it ALL the permissions.

    --
    The millennial that doesn't like most of the stuff designed for millennials.
  2. Excellent AI by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Duplex instantly raised questions over the ethics and privacy implications of using an AI assistant to hold lifelike conversations for you

    That's some amazing AI if it's raising questions about its own use

  3. Phonesex Chatbot When? by Merk42 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just change the goals of the Duplex bot and watch the technology really take off.

  4. Tay 2.0 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2

    Tay 2.0 incoming, in
    3...
    2...
    1...

  5. If I learned one thing from the age of modems... by SuperKendall · · Score: 3, Funny

    Never go Full Duplex.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  6. Re:If I learned one thing from the age of modems.. by nnet · · Score: 2

    Because if you tr{#`%${%&`+'${`%&NO CARRIER

  7. Lying headline by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 2

    It's not a "public" test in any sense of the word. It's a test between whitelisted earlier adopters on both sides of the call.

    By that definition, I suppose my bank account routing numbers are "public" because several select institutions know them and communicate them to each other on my behalf.

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    Your ad here. Ask me how!