AI-Powered Google Assistant is in Work
In a groundbreaking move, Google is set to redefine its voice assistant, Google Assistant, backed by generative AI technology. According to a leaked internal email obtained by AXIOS, a special team of software engineers has been assembled to apply the latest Large Language Model (LLM) technology to Google Assistant, promising to make it “supercharged.”
The email revealed that a portion of the team has already begun working on this transformative project, with a particular focus on enhancing the mobile version of Google Assistant in the first place. This strategic decision comes after Google’s developer conference held in May, which saw a substantial emphasis on artificial intelligence but surprisingly limited information on Google Assistant.
In the fast-evolving landscape of AI chat technologies, some skeptics had questioned the future of Google Assistant, considering the rise of competitors like ChatGPT and Bing Chat, along with Google’s own Bard. However, the leaked email quashes such doubts, outlining a reorganization within the company and reaffirming its commitment to enhancing Google Assistant’s capabilities.
The goal behind this ambitious undertaking is to explore the possibilities of a “supercharged” Google Assistant-powered by cutting-edge LLM technology. Generative AI can revolutionize the way users interact with the assistant, enabling it to offer more dynamic, contextually-aware, and personalized responses.
While specific details about the timeline and rollout of the revamped Google Assistant remain undisclosed, the leaked email has ignited excitement and anticipation among tech enthusiasts. As the software engineers continue their work on this generative AI-backed project, Google Assistant is poised to emerge as a frontrunner in the AI chat technology arena.
Below is the full email text:
Subject: Assistant vision and team changes
Hi team,
Since we launched Assistant seven years ago, we’ve built great experiences for the hundreds of millions of people who use it every month. And we’ve heard people’s strong desire for assistive, conversational technology that can improve their lives.
As a team, we need to focus on delivering high-quality, critical product experiences for our users. We’ve also seen the profound potential of generative AI to transform people’s lives and see a huge opportunity to explore what a supercharged Assistant, powered by the latest LLM technology, would look like. (A portion of the team has already started working on this, beginning with mobile.)
To do both of these things with speed and focus, we are making some changes in the organization:
We’re combining the Services and Surfaces teams, which will be led by Unni and Bryant.
The Mobile team will operate separately under Minni and Zaheed.
The NLP team will now be led by Xiaonan and Lisa.
Sincere thank-you to Michelle, who — on top of her day job leading infrastructure — stewarded the NLP team over the past 4 months. Michelle will now lead infrastructure at 100% capacity.
Speech will continue supporting Assistant and other products, and Françoise will now report to Sissie.As part of this update, we are also eliminating a small number of roles within the team. We have already let these teammates know and we will provide dedicated support to help them through this transition. Everyone impacted will have a minimum of 60 day internal search period, based on local requirements. These have been incredibly difficult decisions, so please support teammates who are processing this news.
Duke and I will host a town hall tomorrow to go through the org changes in more detail and take your questions. (We know tomorrow is a holiday in Zurich, so we’ll also host an EMEA-friendly option on Wednesday.) Some teams will host town halls next week — stay tuned for those calendar invitations. We remain deeply committed to Assistant and we are optimistic about its bright future ahead.
Thanks,
Email obtained by AXIOS
Peeyush and Duke
