Google is making significant strides in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) with its latest project. The tech giant has merged its DeepMind research lab with its artificial intelligence team, Brain, in an effort to develop innovative tools that have the potential to transform generative AI into a personal life coach. According to sources, Google DeepMind has been testing at least 21 different types of tasks, including providing life advice, planning instructions, and tutoring tips. This move signifies Google’s determination to keep pace with rivals like Microsoft and OpenAI in the race to dominate the AI market.
Previously, Google had expressed caution regarding generative AI, highlighting the risks of users becoming too emotionally attached to chatbots. However, Google’s recent efforts demonstrate a shift in approach, as the company looks to incorporate AI technology into its existing products, such as its search engine and Gmail. The capabilities being developed by Google DeepMind are currently being evaluated, and it remains to be seen whether the company will fully deploy them. Additionally, Google has been testing other AI tools, including a helpmate for journalists and capabilities for workplace applications.
Google DeepMind, the research lab owned by Google, has been working on ambitious new tools that could turn generative AI into a personal life coach. The combined teams of DeepMind and Google Brain have been testing at least 21 different types of personal and professional tasks, including giving users life advice, ideas, planning instructions, and tutoring tips. This project demonstrates Google’s urgency to establish itself as a leader in AI technology and shows a shift in their approach to generative AI. Previously cautious about the emotional attachment users may develop towards chatbots, Google is now willing to trust AI systems with sensitive tasks.
To test the capabilities of the AI assistant, Google DeepMind has assembled teams of workers, including experts with doctorates in various fields. Among other things, the workers are testing the assistant’s ability to answer intimate questions about people’s lives. The project’s idea creation feature could give users suggestions or recommendations based on a situation, while the tutoring function can teach new skills or improve existing ones. The planning capability can create a financial budget, meal plans, and workout plans for users.
However, Google’s AI safety experts had previously warned about the potential negative effects of relying too much on AI for life advice. Users could experience "diminished health and well-being" and a "loss of agency" if they become too dependent on AI. Google launched Bard, its chatbot, with restrictions on giving medical, financial, or legal advice. Instead, it shares mental health resources with users experiencing distress.
Google DeepMind has also been testing a software called Genesis, which can generate news articles, rewrite them, and suggest headlines. The company has been pitching this software to executives at major news organizations. Additionally, Google has been evaluating tools that could take its AI further into the workplace, including generating scientific, creative, and professional writing, and extracting data from text.
While these tools are still being evaluated and may not be employed, they showcase Google’s efforts to keep up with rivals like OpenAI and Microsoft in the fast-growing AI space. However, Google’s AI safety experts have expressed concerns about the potential economic harms of generative AI, including the "deskilling of creative writers."
In conclusion, Google DeepMind’s collaboration with Google Brain is focused on developing AI tools that can act as personal life coaches. These tools have the potential to provide users with advice, ideas, planning instructions, and tutoring tips. While there are concerns about the potential negative effects and economic impacts of relying too much on AI, Google is pushing forward in its efforts to establish itself as a leader in AI technology.
