Marc Benioff at A Year In TIME at The Plaza Hotel on December 12, 2023 in New York City.Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for TIME (Getty Images)
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Google’s (GOOGL+1.66%) new artificial intelligence-powered voice assistant has at least one tech chief as a fan.
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Salesforce (CRM-0.98%) chief executive Marc Benioff posted on X that he is “absolutely blown away” by Google’s Gemini Live — a new voice assistant that handles natural conversations with interruptions and topic changes.
“Speaking directly to AI with zero latency—this voice interaction is the future of consumer AI,” Benioff wrote, tagging Google chief executive Sundar Pichai.
Pichai responded“Glad you like it! Lots more to come:),” to Benioff’s post.
X-owner Elon Musk also responded to Benioff’s post, writing, “AI is advancing insanely fast.”
The launch of Google Live comes as the AI race between tech giants pivots from AI chatbots to AI assistants, or as some are calling them, AI agents. Unlike AI chatbots, AI agents are built to handle tasks autonomously.
In October, Microsoft (MSFT+0.20%) announced that it was adding the ability for Copilot users to build their own autonomous agents in Copilot Studio that can “understand the nature of your work and act on your behalf.” And OpenAI, whose technology powers much of Microsoft’s AI, reportedly plans to launch an autonomous agent called “Operator” in January that can handle tasks like coding and travel booking.
Meanwhile, Google is reportedly focusing its AI rivalry with OpenAI on “reasoning” models. Teams at Google have made progress in recent months on software for AI models that resemble humanlike reasoning abilities, Bloomberg reported in October. Google has long focused on “reasoning” capabilities in large language models (LLMs), including in its work on chain-of-thought prompting.
, the potential for misuse or unintended consequences means we must proceed with caution as these technologies develop. Balancing innovation with ethical considerations will be crucial.
Question 1: As an influential figure in the tech industry, you’ve expressed enthusiasm for Google’s new Gemini Live voice assistant. Can you tell us more about what features make this technology stand out for you? And how do you see the integration of voice-activated AI into everyday life evolving in the future?
Guest 1: Well, the biggest advantage that Google’s Gemini Live has over other voice assistants is its ability to engage in natural conversations with interruptions and topic changes. Until now, voice assistants have struggled to understand the context of conversations and would often lose track or require users to repeat themselves. With this new technology, users can have a more fluid and natural interaction, making it feel like they’re actually talking to another person. I also appreciate the speed at which it can process information and provide relevant responses.
As for the future of voice-activated AI, I believe it will become even more pervasive as technology improves and users become more comfortable with it. We’re already seeing it in smart home devices, smartphones, and cars, but I believe we’ll see it integrate even further into our daily lives. Imagine having an AI agent that can manage your schedule, make appointments, and handle mundane tasks like ordering groceries or booking travel arrangements. The possibilities are endless.
Question 2: In addition to voice assistants, the AI race is also shifting towards autonomous agents like Microsoft’s Copilot and OpenAI’s Operator. What role do you see these agents playing in the future of AI, and how do you think they will differ from traditional chatbots?
Guest 2: Autonomous agents are the next step in the evolution of AI. They’ll be able to make decisions, learn from their environment, and adapt to new situations, just like human beings. This is a significant departure from traditional chatbots, which were limited to scripted responses and could not understand the context of user interactions. With autonomous agents, we can delegate tasks to AI and trust that it will get the job done effectively.
However, there are still concerns about privacy and ethics. These agents will have access to vast amounts of data, and we need to ensure that they’re programmed to use it responsibly. Additionally
