Updated Google Assistant demoed, features faster processing speeds via on-device processing

This is pretty interesting.

Over at the Google I/O conference, Google demonstrated an upgraded version of Google Assistant that will respond to user queries more quickly by performing processing on the device. The next generation of the virtual assistant will be able to switch between apps and help with multitasking in Android than for previous versions. 

The promise of on-device processing of digital assistants offer the possibility of faster response times for queries based on locally-held data, without necessarily requiring an internet connection. It also has the prospect of fending off any potential privacy issues caused through dispatching requests to the cloud, where the data may be analyzed and used for other purposes. 

At the conference, Google suggested it was getting closer to the idea of on-device virtual assistants, the next version being capable of processing requests up to ten times faster.

According to Google, it has reduced the size of the artificial intelligence models used for speech recognition and language understanding down from hundreds of gigabytes in size to less than half a gigabyte, making it more manageable to store on a smartphone. This enables the next generation Assistant to perform near real-time transcription without an Internet connection. 

Google’s upgraded Assistant also sports features such as Continued Conversation, wherein multiple queries could be made in a row without having to state “Hey Google” each time.

The company stated that the next-gen Assistant will arrive first on its new Pixel smartphones later this year. It’s presently unknown as to when the upgraded virtual assistant will arrive on other Android devices, or to the iOS platform.

Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

Via AppleInsider