It has undoubtedly been a whirlwind of a month already. Techtober is right here, and we’re actually simply getting began, following the announcement of Samsung’s new Galaxy S23 FE, Tab S9 FE, and Buds. Then, Google adopted it with an enormous launch that had as a lot to do with AI and the longer term because it did with the three new gadgets.
Whereas I am unable to wait to get my palms on the entire cool new digital camera options coming to the Pixel 8 Professional, there’s one thing else that I am much more enthusiastic about. Amidst the entire AI-enhanced functionalities which are making an attempt to make me ditch my DSLR, I am unable to assist however discover myself centered on the “Assistant with Bard” announcement.
Why I am excited for Bard
Admittedly, I have not performed round Bard or ChatGPT almost as a lot as I ought to (or wish to), however Google introduced precisely what I hoped would occur as quickly because it rushed Bard out the door earlier this yr.
Many people are getting fairly fed up with the present state of digital assistants, as they’ve turned extra into an inconvenience than something, which is precisely the other of what they had been alleged to do. However when Google introduced Bard, I believe many people, myself included, simply knew that Bard was coming to Assistant in some type or trend.
I ought to have seen the writing on the wall when Google launched Bard Extensions, which lets you use Bard to work together together with your completely different Google apps and providers. However when Assistant with Bard was launched, I acquired so giddy that I used to be even annoying myself.
Presently, you should use Bard for all kinds of various duties, starting from trying up flight and resort info to asking it to point out particular info from a particular electronic mail in Gmail. You may even ask it to create a listing of duties, convert it to a mission, and have it added to both Google Docs or Duties.
(Are you able to inform that I am excited but?)
Take all of that and throw it into Google Assistant. Oh, then embody some nifty Google Lens options, too, like taking an image and asking contextual questions on it. Or, as Google makes use of for instance, take an image of your pet and let Assistant with Bard draft a publish for social media.
I am dissatisfied that I’ve to attend for Google’s “within the coming months” timeline to go with a view to use Assistant with Bard. However from the skin trying in, it feels as if Google is aiming to make our lives simpler.
And as Rick Osterloh, Google SVP of Units & Providers, acknowledged in a latest interview with Michael Fisher (MrMobile), “You in all probability use YouTube, you in all probability use Google search, you in all probability use Gmail. You already use Google; if you need one of the best place to make use of your whole Google merchandise, it’ll be on a Pixel.”
However the identical sentiment might be utilized to the expertise that I am hoping Assistant with Bard will present.
The place Bard must go subsequent
After seeing what Microsoft has completed via its partnership with OpenAI and the way ChatGPT with Bing is being built-in into Copilot on Home windows 11, I nonetheless can’t assist however be dissatisfied. The reason being that Chromebooks have had fast and quick access to Assitant for years.
Simply click on the Launcher (previously referred to as All the things) button and begin typing. Then, you’ll be able to ask Assistant a query, carry out a Google search, discover a particular file, or simply open an app. However even with how excited I’m to see the enhancements coming to Assistant, I’m making an attempt to remain optimistic that it’ll additionally come to Chromebooks.
Simply earlier than the Assistant with Bard announcement was made, Chromebooks had their “week within the solar” with the announcement of “Chromebook Plus” gadgets with some point out of AI-focused options. And whereas I nonetheless maintain the hope alive {that a} Pixelbook 2 comes, I’m additionally hoping that by Google imposing requirements for Chromebook {hardware}, we’ll see the corporate proceed to deal with ChromeOS. I count on this would be the case finally, however till Assitant with Bard begins rolling out, I’ll have to carry my judgment.
One other space the place I believe it’s time for Google to rethink its place is within the good dwelling. I nonetheless keep that the Pixel Pill is a Nest Hub Max substitute, however that’s actually simply because it feels as if Google has utterly forgotten about its good shows and audio system.
If Google sticks to its timeline of “within the coming months,” the official rollout of Assistant with Bard might doubtlessly coincide with new good dwelling {hardware}. It doesn’t should be fairly; it simply must be purposeful and highly effective sufficient to harness the ability of Google’s public-facing AI efforts.
