Google's human-like AI phone call 'Duplex' technology will tell you its a robot

Google I/O 2018

Duplex, Google's eerily human-sounding Assistant characteristic that's capable of making phone calls to local concern for users, seems a little too impressive to actually exist at any point in the near future.

While Duplex could end up being the latest example of in a long line of I/O-related vapourware, it'southward undeniably impressive. Following a backfire focused on the ethics of AIs pretending to be humans, Google has started to stress the transparency features built straight into the technology powering Duplex.

"We are designing this feature with disclosure congenital-in, and we'll brand sure the system is accordingly identified," said a Google spokesperson in an emailed statement to diverse publications. "What we showed at I/O was an early technology demo, and we expect frontward to incorporating feedback as nosotros develop this into a product."

It'due south still unclear how Google intends to handle this disclosure, just it would likely demand to accept identify before the phone call starts. Otherwise, if Duplex actually works how Google demoed the engineering science at I/O, the person on the other end won't know whether they're talking to a robot.

In Google's Duplex demo, the AI banana made a real call to book an appointment at a hair salon, with the entire conversation sounding extremely lifelike. A second call was also made that went a little off the rails, with Duplex keeping its absurd and standing to comport on the chat in a mode that fabricated sense.

Duplex sounded extremely natural during the demo and even threw in filler words like "hmm" and "umm," making the conversation seem that much more real.

This has lead to a discussion surrounding the ethics of an AI powered robot substantially making a phone call for you. Google CEO Sundar Pichai welcomed the discussion surrounding Duplex'due south ethics in a recent weblog post.

"Information technology'southward clear that engineering can be a positive forcefulness and improve the quality of life for billions of people around the world. But it's every bit clear that we can't just exist wide-eyed about what nosotros create," he wrote in a blog post.

"There are very real and of import questions being raised most the impact of technology and the role it volition play in our lives. Nosotros know the path ahead needs to be navigated carefully and deliberately—and we feel a deep sense of responsibility to get this right."

Source: Google, CNET