Google Pixel 3 phone aims to automate more daily tasks - Tech Xplore
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Google Pixel 3 phone aims to automate
more daily tasks
15 October 2018, by Anick Jesdanun
As impressive as Google's ambitions are, though,
AI is still new at the job of saving us from
meaningless tasks. That may not come until an
eventual Pixel 9 or Pixel 13. The Pixel 3, out
Thursday starting at about $800, is for those who
can't wait.
CALL SCREENING
No doubt you've gotten an automated call from a
telemarketer pitching lower interest rates or
vacation shares. Google now lets you fight back
with an automated response.
When a mystery call comes in, just hit "Screen
In this Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, file photo New Google call." Google's voice assistant takes over and asks
Pixel 3 smartphones are displayed in New York. for a name and purpose of the call. Transcribed
Google's new Pixel 3 phone plays catch-up with Apple responses appear in real time, so you can decide
and Samsung on hardware. It's really designed to whether to pick up. You can even request more
showcase Google's advances in software, particularly in information by tapping buttons such as "Tell me
artificial intelligence. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
more."
There's not much about the physical details of
Google's new Pixel 3 phone that you can't find
elsewhere. That bigger display and curved design?
Apple and Samsung phones already have that.
But the Pixel doesn't intend to wow people with its
hardware anyway. It's really a showcase for
Google's latest advances in software, particularly
in artificial intelligence.
Google wants to help you manage daily life, from
screening unwanted phone calls to predicting what
you'll type. The software underscores how Google
is tapping its strengths in personalization—and
perhaps make money through ads in the process. This Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, file photo shows the
cameras on the back of the Google Pixel 3 XL, left, and
Google Pixel 3 smartphones in New York. Google's new
You get free services in exchange for letting Pixel 3 phone plays catch-up with Apple and Samsung
Google deeper into your life. The Pixel isn't likely to on hardware. It's really designed to showcase Google's
work for anyone uncomfortable with that trade-off. advances in software, particularly in artificial intelligence.
(AP Photo/Richard Drew)
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Photo/Richard Drew)
It's a good concept, though it's not clear that it
really saves time. You still need to follow the voice
assistant's chatter; taking the call and hanging up The feature is most useful if you have a business
would often be faster. Perhaps Google's assistant card or flyer handy when you're ready to make a
could one day handle all that for you without even call, visit a website or get directions through Google
ringing the phone, then decide based on the Maps.
response whether to interrupt your game of
"Fortnite." You still need a few extra taps to add the
information to your contact list. Then there's the
But legitimate callers would still find this annoying. task of tagging which is number is for home, work
It didn't help that I kept tapping "I can't understand," or cell, and what context you met that person in.
forcing friends to repeat themselves over and over That much management might incline you to let
to a robot. those piles of business cards keep stacking up.
TEXT RECOGNITION A SMART STAND-IN
Point the camera at a business card, flyer or other Place the phone on an optional $79 Pixel Stand
printed text, and Google will try to extract phone charging station, and it can display a rotating set of
numbers and addresses. It also works with QR and images from an album you choose. Or you can
barcodes. trust Google to select the best shots. Soon, you'll
be able to let Google's facial-recognition technology
If this sounds familiar, it's because it is. Last year's just pick out photos of your family, including new
Pixel phones had this Google Lens feature , while shots as you take them (though not in the
Samsung has a similar feature called Bixby Vision. European Union, where privacy regulations are
The difference: Before, you had to tap something to tighter.)
activate a feature. Now it's automatic.
The photo display will take you down memory lane,
as images from past trips, weddings and family
events come up. If only Google was smart enough
to remove the party shots never meant for public,
sober viewing.
This Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, file photo shows the
Google Pixel 3, left, and Google Pixel 3 XL, and wireless
charging stand in New York. Google's new Pixel 3 phone
plays catch-up with Apple and Samsung on hardware. It's
really designed to showcase Google's advances in
software, particularly in artificial intelligence. (AP
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This Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, file photo shows the Google's advances in software, particularly in artificial
Google Pixel 3 XL, left, and Google Pixel 3 smartphones intelligence. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
in New York. Google's new Pixel 3 phone plays catch-up
with Apple and Samsung on hardware. It's really The stand works well as a bedside companion.
designed to showcase Google's advances in software, Before bed, it offers to set your alarm. In the
particularly in artificial intelligence. (AP Photo/Richard
morning, one tap gets you the weather, upcoming
Drew)
calendar events and details about traffic on your
commute. It's not perfect, though: Google still
hasn't figured out that I don't own a car and have
no use for driving directions. Or that I don't need
commute information on weekends.
SMART SNAPPING
Just smile or make a funny face for the selfie
camera to automatically take the shot. For regular
photos, Google captures extra shots as
alternatives, in case someone blinks or blocks the
view, though Google's recommendations aren't
always spot on, as even humans can disagree on
what looks best.
The camera also uses software to combine multiple
versions of images, essentially filling in some gaps
The Google Pixel 3, left, and Pixel 3 XL are shown in this so that zoomed-in shots come out sharper than
photo, in New York, Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. Google's
they normally would. It starts to cross the line of
new Pixel 3 phone plays catch-up with Apple and
digital manipulation, but pictures do look nice.
Samsung on hardware. It's really designed to showcase
Google's advances in software, particularly in artificial
intelligence. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) It's still no replacement from a real zoom, which the
latest Apple and Samsung phones offer via a
second lens. Google turns to software to make up
for what it lacks in hardware.
A NOTE ON PRIVACY
Google executives emphasize that much of the AI
analysis is taking place on the phone, not Google's
servers. When screening calls, for instance, all
interactions stay private unless you report the
number as spam, in which case it gets added to
Google's database as a warning to others. The
basic text recognition for the Google Lens feature
and the camera's image processing also are done
on the device.
But more advanced Google Lens features, such as
recognizing museum paintings, require sending
The Google Pixel 3, left, and Pixel 3 XL are shown in this
photo, in New York, Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. Google's data to Google's servers. So do most of the
new Pixel 3 phone plays catch-up with Apple and requests you make on the Pixel stand.
Samsung on hardware. It's really designed to showcase
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APA citation: Google Pixel 3 phone aims to automate more daily tasks (2018, October 15) retrieved 21
October 2018 from https://techxplore.com/news/2018-10-google-pixel-aims-automate-daily.html
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