AI & RoboticsNews

Google Assistant on Pixel 4 may handle calls while you're on hold

September 8, 2019
Google Assistant’s ability to handle phone calls may extend beyond booking appointments. A 9to5Google source claims Assistant on the upcoming Pixel 4 will have the option of taking over when you’re on hold, bringing you back when another human answers. You’d only have to tap a button to ignore the hold music and get things done. It’s not clear if this will also skip the…
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AI & RoboticsNews

Google Assistant will help you find Tile trackers

September 7, 2019
You don’t want to lose an item tagged with a Tile Bluetooth tracker, but you’ll at least have an easier time finding it in the near future. Tile is planning Google Assistant support that will let you directly ring your tracker from any device that supports the AI…
AI & RoboticsNews

NTSB says Tesla Autopilot was partly to blame for 2018 crash

September 5, 2019
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) cited both driver error and Tesla’s Autopilot design as the probable causes of a January 2018 crash, in which a Model S slammed into a parked fire truck at about 31 mph. According to the report, the driver was distracted and did not see the fire truck. But NTSB says that Tesla’s Autopilot was also at fault, as its design “permitted…
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AI & RoboticsGamingNews

Facebook is training an AI assistant inside ‘Minecraft’

August 29, 2019
The most advanced AIs today can perform select tasks with superhuman-like efficiency, beating the best humans have to offer at intricate games like Starcraft II and Go. But ask those same AIs to perform something outside of their area of expertise, and they’ll struggle. Creating an AI that’s a generalist is one of the next major challenges of AI research. And it’s something a…
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AI & RoboticsNews

Bose's new portable speaker has Alexa, Google Assistant and 360 audio

August 22, 2019
Bose is expanding its smart speaker offerings with the aptly named Bose Portable Home Speaker, which includes Bluetooth connectivity, voice control and virtual assistant integration into a 7.5-inch by 4-inch package. The 2.3-pound speaker is made for on-the-go activities, with 12 hours of battery life, an IPX4 water-resistance rating and — of course — a handle. The Bose Portable Home…
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