Google CEO Sundar Pichai made a significant announcement on Friday, revealing that Google is making a decisive shift towards its generative AI platform, which is undergoing a rebranding from ‘Bard’ to ‘Gemini’.
This strategic move underscores Google’s commitment to advancing artificial intelligence technologies and their integration into everyday experiences.
For Australians, perhaps the most notable aspect of this announcement is the impending transition from Google Assistant to Gemini.
Starting next week, Australian users of Google Assistant on Android devices will have the option to embrace Gemini instead of the traditional Assistant.
This transition marks a pivotal moment for Google Assistant, representing the most substantial change since its inception in 2016.
The decision to phase out Google Assistant in favour of Gemini reflects Google’s confidence in the capabilities and potential of its generative AI platform. Gemini is poised to offer enhanced functionalities and a more intuitive user experience, catering to the evolving needs and preferences of consumers in Australia and beyond.
Google Assistant serves as Google’s counterpart to Apple’s Siri or Amazon’s Alexa, handling straightforward inquiries and performing elementary functions such as controlling smart home devices.
With Gemini, Google aims to expand upon this foundation by integrating generative AI capabilities, enabling users to utilise their voice or text input to request tasks like crafting a personalised image for a birthday invite, composing an Instagram caption for a picture, or seeking clarifications regarding an article they are perusing.
According to Google, you could snap a picture of your punctured tyre by the roadside and seek guidance on the next steps. Unlike Google Assistant, Gemini will possess the capability to gather additional context for queries, enabling it to discern which image requires a caption or which article you’re currently engaged in reading.
Should users feel uneasy about embracing generative AI technology or having an AI assistant analyse their screen for context, they have the option to continue using the standard Google Assistant for the time being.
However, this development sets a higher standard for Apple and Amazon in terms of what they must accomplish with their respective smart assistants to remain competitive amidst the prevailing trend of generative AI.
For existing Bard users, the transition to Gemini will primarily involve a change in the web address, while the core functionality remains largely unchanged. Bard, akin to ChatGPT or Midjourney, operates as a generative AI platform, employing concise prompts to generate written pieces or images.
