Google I/O 2018: Assistant beats Siri to multiple actions & phone conversations, ‘Digital Wellbeing’, more

Google’s 2018 I/O developer conference has begun today and the company has announced a slew of new features and updates for its software and services. Among the most interesting features are impressive updates to Google Assistant and a new Digital Wellbeing dashboard, putting more pressure on Apple to deliver in these areas.

First up, Siri’s competitor, Google Assistant is getting some sharp new capabilities, and putting even more pressure on Apple to give its AI some serious upgrades.

The most impressive announcement so far has likely been the demo of Google Assistant calling a hair salon to book an appointment for a user…and talking to the business in real-time.

In essence, users can have Assistant make a call on their behalf that sounds natural and understands nuance, while being able to fail gracefully if it cannot handle the call.

Google also demoed a call where Assistant tried to book a restaurant reservation and was able to understand the nuance of the business saying they don’t book them for small parties. This feature will undergo more testing this summer and could come to users soon.

Other slick new functionality for Google’s AI includes the ability to ask multiple questions in a single phrase, the ability to differentiate conversation directed at Assistant or to others in a room, and even a feature to encourage kindness from young users called “Pretty Please”. It also added six new voices to Assistant, including John Legend for some interaction.

Meanwhile with Siri, we’re still waiting for multiple timer support, let alone multiple actions in a single phrase and HomeKit support with Siri on Mac.

Another big feature is a new Digital Wellbeing feature that comes with a new dashboard and useful settings.

Time limits help users restrict how much time an app is used every day. A nudge will note users when they are approaching the limit, with the app icon grayed out for the rest of the day. A wind down helps users get to sleep earlier, with features like graying the screen to encourage you to stop using your device.

While Apple hasn’t confirmed details of how it will approach this topic, it has said that it will be bringing changes to improve how people use its devices and specifically to parental controls.

Android P is also getting swipe gestures that will be very familiar to iPhone X users.

Android P emphasizes “simplicity,” starting with the navigation bar. It makes multitasking more approachable with a swipe app entering the new Recents screen. Swiping up again gives users access to the app list. A “quick scrub” gesture on the new pill home button allows users to swipe right to access the timeline of apps.

Other major news includes a big redesign for Google News with new AI features and a new app, a new machine learning tool for developers called ML Kit, and Android P beta coming to more devices.

Read more below for all of our news from our 9to5Google team on-site (and check back for more as Google I/O 2018 continues this week):

• Google demos Assistant making automated, natural calls on your behalf

• Google Assistant adding Continued Conversation, Multiple Actions, & Pretty Please

• Google adds 6 new voices to Google Assistant, partners with John Legend for ‘certain contexts’

• Google announces Android P w/ gesture navigation, adaptive battery/brightness, and digital wellbeing

• Google adds morse code as input method in Gboard w/ predictive word suggestions

• Google’s Digital Wellbeing will help you understand smartphone habits, view usage, focus on the important things

• Google Lens integrating w/ camera apps, adding smart text selection & real-time results

• Google Maps’ new ‘For you’ tab introduces personal recommendations, AR camera features

• Google makes machine learning easy for developers with ML Kit

• Android P Beta available today, landing on non-Pixel devices including Essential Phone, OnePlus 6, Sony Xperia XZ2

• Google Assistant gets refreshed smartphone UI, integrates Google Now-esque features

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