The company believes that artificial intelligence is the engine to solve real problems, and this year's event offered the first broad sample of changes to come. Here are seven promises from the Internet giant.
Android P and Artificial Intelligence are highlights of Google I / O 2018
Android P: know everything about the operating system
1. More fluid Google Assistant
Google Assistant is the flagship when it comes to artificial intelligence. During the event, Google announced a more fluid way of converting the feature, which allows the user to continue asking questions without triggering the command "Hey, Google" (replacing the current "Ok, Google") every time. The idea makes possible a more natural way to interact, without the frequent interruptions needed today to continue with the domain of the machine.
This evolution, according to Google, is provided from a better understanding of the system in relation to human language. Thus, the Assistant knows more easily when the user continues an interaction or is just in conversation with someone next to him.
In addition, the feature present on Android and soon on Android TV will receive six new voices, including that of singer John Legend. It is not yet clear, however, when these news will be made available in Portuguese, in Brazil.
American singer John Legend will be one of the voices available on Google Assistant Photo: Divulgao / Google
The evolution of the Assistant's language ability was shown most impressively in Google Duplex. Still in the testing phase, Google's artificial intelligence function is the ability to make calls to start conversations with real people. In the demonstration, the machine called a beauty salon and, according to the user's previous orientation, made an appointment with the attendant.
Despite questions about the feasibility of this type of task, it is evident the improvement that technology gains to understand the language and speak like a human. In English, the machine uses expressions like "hummm" and "", indicators of hesitation to sound more realistic to the listener. After the demonstration, Google said it decided to include a warning at the beginning of the conversation to let the caller know that it is a robot.
Google Assistant has autonomy to make appointments Photo: Reproduo / dnetc
3. Automatic text in Gmail
Language enhancements have also been used in Gmail's Smart Composition function. When typing a message in the browser, the user receives suggestions and can click on the "Tab" key to continue the text automatically, as provided by the machine. The feature similar to a mobile keyboard.
According to Google, the novelty helps to save time by reducing repetitive writing and the chance of spelling and grammatical errors. The machine may even suggest relevant contextual phrases, such as the greeting "Have a great weekend!" at the end of the email, according to the day of the week. Already released in the USA, the intelligent auto-complete function is not expected to arrive in Brazil.
Gmail will suggest texts to create emails by typing less Photo: Divulgao / Google
Google's AI is also more improved for recognizing images, and one of the reflexes of this improvement is in the photo hosting service. A function of the application based on the analysis of artificial intelligence has already arrived for everyone, including in Brazil, to suggest more accurate automatic adjustments of brightness, color and contrast. The app is also better able to recognize people in photos, with quicker suggestions for sharing with friends.
Another highlight is related to Google Lens, a feature for identifying elements from the cell phone camera. With it, it will be possible to obtain online information about people, animals and objects in the real world and thereby pave the way for a more complete shopping experience via the Internet. The machine will also be able to read text on paper, such as menus and medicine instructions, and offer definitions and other data in Google search without having to type anything.
Lens will be offered in Brazil from May, directly on the camera of some Android devices. For now, the function is planned for models from LG, Motorola, Sony and Asus. Samsung phones, which have the assistant Bixby, are initially left out.
Google Lens analyzes the environment and offers online information Photo: Divulgao / Google
6. Most adaptive Android
Google has announced artificial intelligence applications planned for Android P, the next version of the smartphone system. The highlights go to features that adapt the phone to the user's preferences automatically, such as screen brightness and battery usage by the most important apps.
The software also promises to analyze the use of the device to always offer quick information, such as apps activated at a certain time of the day. In addition to streamlining tasks, the idea is to save as much energy as possible to keep the phone longer out of the socket.
Android P will manage battery with the help of artificial intelligence Photo: Nicolly Vimercate / dnetc
Google News has been completely overhauled with the help of artificial intelligence. The company uses its skillful algorithm, to constantly search the web to feed a system for collecting the main news on any topic, with an understanding of the context. The robot uses the user's location and interests, among other variables, to deliver a cohesive package of information for reading.
AI studies applied to a news reader result in functions such as the "Complete coverage" button, with a feed about a certain event. Google collects the most relevant publications and groups them into a list to make it easier for the reader to understand. In addition, the app also displays, in some contents, small excerpts of the material to help the user decide whether to click on that content.
Google News groups news with context understanding Photo: Divulgao / Google