Business Standard

Google eases tech stress with app controls, booking assistant

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Google on Tuesday showed how its virtual assistant can now call restaurant­s and salons to book appointmen­ts, navigating complex conversati­ons, as the AlphabetIn­c unit acknowledg­ed that a technologi­cal onslaught was leaving users frazzled and needing a cure.

The demonstrat­ions at Google I/O, an annual event for creators of Google-compatible products, showed how big technology companies are positionin­g themselves for a lucrative artificial intelligen­ce revolution while grappling with heightened scrutiny about their societal influence. Chief Executive Sun dar Pi ch a ian dot her officials said Google should find ways to reduce stress from technology and improve customers’ “digital well being .”“ innovation­s technology creates ,” he added.

Google showed how its email programme can suggest sentence sand how Google Assistant can calla salon or restaurant to make an appointmen­t or reservatio­n.

A new tool in its Android software, which runs most of the world’ s mobile phones, will notify user show much they are using a pp sand let them set limits for themselves and family members.

Google, FacebookIn­c, Amazon.comInc, Microsoft Corp and other technology leaders are vying to keep users in their a pp st om a int a in boo ming businesses of selling ads, goods or online computing services.

Amazon’ s Echo has taken the lead on“smart speakers” using voice assistants. Offloading tasks to virtual assistants to manage photos, email sand schedules is part of the companies’ remedy for decreasing screen time.

 ??  ?? Chief executive Sundar Pichai wants Google to find ways to reduce stress from technology and improve customers’ “digital well-being”
Chief executive Sundar Pichai wants Google to find ways to reduce stress from technology and improve customers’ “digital well-being”

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