Stronger Together: Voice-Focused Partnerships form Google and LG
This week in Conversational AI
Google Nest partners with Booking.com
Google Nest announced its partnership with the leading travel service Booking.com, to allow for more connected experience for travelers and hosts alike. As part of this partnership, U.S. based travelers, who booked a stay on Booking.com between December 26, 2019, through January 5, 2020, with a minimum spend of $150 are to receive a free Google Nest Mini, which can help bookers with travel details, such as flight times, weather, and translation.
LG to develop an AI-powered car platform
The next few years are going to be huge for in-car voice assistants and Frost & Sullivan is predicting the importance branded voice assistants to grow even further: “Branded digital assistants will help automakers strengthen their brand and convert one-time sales into continual service-centric relationships.” Over the past few weeks, there’s been a lot of vehicular news, and now the LG together with automotive software firm Cerence is going to develop an AI-powered connected car platform. Automakers will be able to purchase the software, designed by the two companies, and then tailor it to their specific needs.
Firefox releases own voice assistant in beta
Mozilla’s Firefox browser now features voice controls. The company introduced a beta version of its Firefox Voice which functions like an in-browsed smart display voice assistant. The extension doesn’t (yet?) have a wake word, gets activated by clicking on the icon in the address bar and answers questions by using the default search engine.
Apple acquires AI startup Xnor.ai
According to Geekwire, Apple bought edge-based startup Xnor.ai for some $200 million. Based in Seattle, the startup builds low-power machine learning technology that functions constantly without needing a connection to the cloud. Xnor has not explicitly applied its technology to voice AI, but the principle of edge processing is the same, as is the value in efficiency and privacy. Acquiring the tech that will automatically allow users to reach their data may help Apple reassure people that their information is private and it’s buying their devices is safe.
