Tech

Has Google Duplex Taken Artificial Intelligence Too Far With This Startlingly Realistic Demo?

Google is making headlines for their artificial intelligence and no one knows how to take it. On Tuesday at the annual I/O event, Google gave the world a demonstration of their Google Duplex AI and it was shocking, to say the least.

The shocking demo

The new capability of Google Duplex that was revealed is its ability to make a phone call on your behalf. Google CEO Sundar Pichai played a recording of the eerily realistic phone call that took place between Google Duplex and a Hair Salon, where the AI voice can even be heard making sounds such as “um” and “mhm.” Can you even tell who isn’t real?

Still under development

Though this seems very advanced, Google insists it’s still very much under development. In fact, Google is so invested in their AI program and development, they have gone ahead and renamed their Google Research division to “Google AI.” Google currently notes that Google Duplex can successfully complete most conversations on its own, but occasionally gets overwhelmed and lets a human operator take over.

Sundar Pichai insists that Google Duplex is designed to help you with specific tasks, “the technology is directed towards completing specific tasks, such as scheduling certain types of appointments. For such tasks, the system makes the conversational experience as natural as possible, allowing people to speak normally, like they would to another person, without having to adapt to a machine.”  It’s seemingly innocent, but could AI be taken too far?

See Also

The company says it “wants to be transparent about where and when Duplex is being used,” but you know, a lot of companies say a lot of things. This is starting to sound very Blade Runner-esque if you ask me.

What do you think of Google Duplex? Have they taken AI too far? Let us know in the comments below!
Featured image source: Google Twitter
Jaclyn Vlahos

Jackie graduated from Merrimack College in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and a minor in Public and Professional Writing. With a wide range of experiences including an internship with Seventeen and Cosmopolitan Magazines along with running her own business, Jackie is well versed in the professional world of media and publishing. You can find her in the corner eating pizza.

Recent Posts

20 Things No One Tells You About Freshman Year At Longwood University

Your freshman year at any university or college should be an easy transition, but sometimes it does not turn out…

3 hours ago

Everything You Need To Know About Cherry Seaborn

If you don't know who Cherry Seaborn is by now, you may be living under a rock. She is the…

6 hours ago

The 10 Best Date Restaurants Around UNH

Let's get real for a minute here. Eating is a beautiful thing. People love food, so it's only natural that…

14 hours ago

10 Places To Cry At West Chester University

Gotta cry? Even mighty West Chester University Golden Rams have to let it out sometimes! Go get emotional at these…

18 hours ago

10 GIFs That Describe Being A Student At Pitt

No matter what year you are at Pitt, these GIFS are perfect representations of what it is like to be…

21 hours ago

The Ultimate Philly Food Bucket List

One of the best things about living in Philly is the abundance of new foods there are to try. The…

1 day ago