Google Duplex is an AI-based technology that engages in real-world conversations to accomplish specific tasks, such as scheduling appointments.
This technology makes the conversational experience as realistic as possible, allowing users to communicate naturally, as if chatting with another person, instead of adjusting to a computer.
How Does Google Duplex Work?
Google is working hard to make cellphones smarter with Google Duplex. The feature is a Google Assistant add-on that includes a voicebot that proactively reaches out to contacts.
For example, customers may ask the Assistant to reserve a table at a restaurant. The Assistant then interacts with whoever answers the phone at the restaurant using Duplex.
Duplex's current function may appear to be only a minor addition – yet it has far-reaching implications. Indeed, when Google Duplex speaks on the phone, its voice sounds remarkably human, complete with pauses and fillers like "uh."
Also, the Google Duplex system can hold sophisticated conversations and perform most of its tasks without human participation. It is a significant next step in the growth of AI assistants that are entirely self-contained and natural-sounding.
Duplex is available on Google's Pixel phones and any iPhone running iOS 10 or higher.
3 Critical Google Duplex Features
1. Sounding Natural
Google Duplex combines concatenative text to speech (TTS) software and synthetic TTS software, utilizing Tacotron and WaveNet to offer a natural AI voice.
The system also includes filler words - such as "hmm"s and "uh"s - to sound more genuine, as when humans put together their ideas, this is a typical form of articulation.
Also, the solution matches expectations when it comes to latency. For instance, when people say something simple like "hello?", they expect a quick response and are more sensitive to delays.
Google Duplex uses faster, low-confidence speech recognition models to determine whether lower latency is required. In extreme cases, it makes quick approximations - usually accompanied by more hesitant responses, as if the individual did not fully understand. Although, it can react with speeds of less than 100 milliseconds.
Surprisingly, adding more delay to a conversation does enable the exchange to feel more authentic in particular circumstances, such as responding to an especially complicated comment.