AI may beat humans at everything in 45 years, experts predict
Why it matters to you
Artificial intelligence is coming. These experts offer up a possible timescale, and some practical solutions.
Predicting the future of AI isn’t easy. Every decade since artificial intelligence was first formed as its own discipline in 1956, there’s been a prediction that artificial general intelligence (AGI) is just a few years away — and so far we can safely say that most of them have been shy of the mark.
A new survey, conducted by the University of Oxford and Yale University, draws on the expertise of 352 leading AI researchers. It suggests that there’s a 50-percent chance that machines will be bettering us at every task by the year 2062. However, plenty more milestones will be hit before then. These include machines which are better than us at translating foreign languages by 2024, better at writing high school essays than us by 2026, better at driving trucks by 2027, better at working retail jobs by 2031, capable of penning a bestselling book by 2049, and better at carrying out surgery by 2053. Asian respondents predicted these events happening much sooner than North American researchers.
All human jobs, researchers predict, will be automated 120 years from now.
“We are interested in when powerful AI will be developed, and what will happen as a result,” Katja Grace at the Machine Intelligence Research Institute in Berkeley, California — one of the lead authors of the survey — told Digital Trends. “So we asked directly about when ‘human-level’ AI might be developed in a few different ways, and also about things that indirectly bear on when we expect powerful AI, but which we think researchers may know more about, like acceleration in their own field. We also asked them about what they thought would happen, both in terms of how good or bad it might be overall, and in terms of things like whether it will affect technological progress in a big way. We found a wide diversity of views, but with enough opinion finding relatively near dates and relatively high levels of risk as plausible that we think this warrants more attention.”
As with any work that predicts the future of technology beyond just the next few years, there’s absolutely no guarantee this is close to accurate — but it certainly makes for some interesting reading.
Perhaps the most valuable aspect of the study is to make us think about things that could be put into place now to prepare for such an eventuality. According to Grace, this includes supporting AI safety research, choosing how funding is allocated now in accordance with the future we want to create, and rethinking the jobs market.
You can read the study, titled “When Will AI Exceed Human Performance? Evidence from AI Experts,” here.
AI may beat humans at everything in 45 years, experts predict
Why it matters to you
Artificial intelligence is coming. These experts offer up a possible timescale, and some practical solutions.
Predicting the future of AI isn’t easy. Every decade since artificial intelligence was first formed as its own discipline in 1956, there’s been a prediction that artificial general intelligence (AGI) is just a few years away — and so far we can safely say that most of them have been shy of the mark.
A new survey, conducted by the University of Oxford and Yale University, draws on the expertise of 352 leading AI researchers. It suggests that there’s a 50-percent chance that machines will be bettering us at every task by the year 2062. However, plenty more milestones will be hit before then. These include machines which are better than us at translating foreign languages by 2024, better at writing high school essays than us by 2026, better at driving trucks by 2027, better at working retail jobs by 2031, capable of penning a bestselling book by 2049, and better at carrying out surgery by 2053. Asian respondents predicted these events happening much sooner than North American researchers.
All human jobs, researchers predict, will be automated 120 years from now.
“We are interested in when powerful AI will be developed, and what will happen as a result,” Katja Grace at the Machine Intelligence Research Institute in Berkeley, California — one of the lead authors of the survey — told Digital Trends. “So we asked directly about when ‘human-level’ AI might be developed in a few different ways, and also about things that indirectly bear on when we expect powerful AI, but which we think researchers may know more about, like acceleration in their own field. We also asked them about what they thought would happen, both in terms of how good or bad it might be overall, and in terms of things like whether it will affect technological progress in a big way. We found a wide diversity of views, but with enough opinion finding relatively near dates and relatively high levels of risk as plausible that we think this warrants more attention.”
As with any work that predicts the future of technology beyond just the next few years, there’s absolutely no guarantee this is close to accurate — but it certainly makes for some interesting reading.
Perhaps the most valuable aspect of the study is to make us think about things that could be put into place now to prepare for such an eventuality. According to Grace, this includes supporting AI safety research, choosing how funding is allocated now in accordance with the future we want to create, and rethinking the jobs market.
You can read the study, titled “When Will AI Exceed Human Performance? Evidence from AI Experts,” here.
Accessorize your Apple Watch with cases, stands, straps, and more
Update: Added the Moshi Apple Watch Travel Stand and Eco Fused Case Screen Protector.
You have a wide range of different Apple Watch models and strap combinations to choose from, and they range in price from $350 all the way up to $17,000, but your options don’t end with your purchase. You can safeguard your precious timepiece, snag a stylish charging solution, or buy a new strap for special occasions. The Apple Watch accessories just keep on coming, and we’ve been digging through them.
Below are a few of our favorite accessories, and if you’re looking to outfit your device with the best software, check out our roundup of the best apps for the Apple Watch.
Moshi Apple Watch Travel Stand ($35)
Here’s the perfect charging stand for your Apple Watch, whether you’re on the go or at home. The main feature here is that the base of the stand acts as storage for your cord. This means you can wrap the charging cable and tuck it under the base, so you can pull out the desired length when you want to plug it in and keep things neat. The charging cord can also live inside the base when you’re traveling, and you can adjust the hinge so that you can have it in nightstand mode or fold it flat when you need to stow it.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Eco Fused Case Screen Protector ($7-$11)
Trying to apply a screen protector to an Apple Watch screen can be difficult, but this Eco Fused offering acts as both a case and a clear screen protector. You can choose a soft or hard cover, and because it’s a case, it’s also easy to remove and clean. You can order this case for either the 38-millimeter or 42-millimeter Apple Watch 2. The front screen protector will always be transparent, but you can order the case in a variety of colors. The company also offers packs of two soft and two hard TPU covers, if you would like to try them both.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Burkley Soft Leather Band ($62)
You’ll love the look and feel of these soft, genuine leather straps for the Apple Watch. Burkley is expert at fashioning leather accessories, and these straps come in a choice of different finishes and with different buckle styles. The antique coffee finish with the classic buckle gets our vote, but you can pick whatever suits you. The clasp is included, for your chosen size. You’ll find the natural leather ages, so it looks even better when it’s worn in.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Trident Valet ($15)
It may look like a display case, but you can use the Valet to charge up your Apple Watch and your iPhone simultaneously. Flip the transparent lid open, and you’ll find the iPhone slots in neatly. There’s a built-in 2,600mAh battery in the Valet, making it a perfect travel companion. It can be charged up using a standard USB to Micro USB cable and there’s one supplied, though you will have to use your own Lightning and Watch cables. It comes in a textured black or white finish, and there are five green LEDs on the front to show remaining battery power.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Mophie Dock ($25)
A minimalist design that hides your charging cable is always welcome, and this Mophie dock delivers it. It’s more stable than it looks, thanks to a solid aluminum frame, and the leather accents look classy and cushion your Apple Watch from damage. You’ll have to slot your own cable in, but it’s fairly easy to set up. It works well with any Apple watch size or strap, and it won’t look out of place on most desks or nightstands.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Aerb Bamboo Docking Station ($7)
This bamboo docking station is essentially an attractive block of bamboo with some well-placed grooves and hollows. It’s designed to act as a stand for both your Apple Watch and your iPhone. You’ll have to slide in your own cables. There’s a special groove for the Apple Watch cable, but the Lightning cable just comes through a hole in the back. The rounded bamboo finish is practical and blends in easily with most surroundings. This docking station is also a great value.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Mkeke Apple Watch Stainless Steel ($25)
If you don’t want to spend $449 on an official stainless steel bracelet for your Apple Watch, then this bracelet from Mkeke is a great alternative. At only $29, it’s a pretty hard deal to beat. It is available on Amazon at both 42mm and 38mm. Made from 316L stainless steel, this is a solid and very durable Apple Watch band. It’s compatible with Apple Watch Series 1, Series 2, Sport, and Edition versions. The color of this bracelet is space gray, but the seller does warn that it may not be a 100 percent color match with Apple’s space gray. It has a double folding clasp, and the best part is that there’s an adjuster included, so you can remove links to adjust the size to fit your wrist. It comes with a 1 year warranty that promises a refund or a replacement.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Casetify Apple Watch Straps ($70)
If you’re not keen on Apple’s bands, then you can find a wide selection of strap designs at Casetify. In fact, you can design your own strap if you don’t like any of the countless designs on offer. There’s an app for Android or iOS, making it easy for you to design a strap with your own photos. You’ll also find a lot of funky designs on display, created by a diverse group of artists. Each strap is polycarbonate, with stainless steel fixings, and you can customize the size.
Buy one now from:
Casetify
Nomad Pod ($42+)
This portable pod is designed to slip into your pocket or bag. It measures 75mm by 25mm and weighs around 80g. It offers up to four full charges for your Apple Watch, thanks to a 1,800mAh lithium polymer battery. There’s a power button with a four LED display to give you an idea of remaining power, and a Micro USB port on the side to charge the Pod. Pop the top off, and you’ll find a standard USB Type-A port, into which you can plug your Apple Watch charging cable. You can wrap the cable inside before putting the top back on, to keep it tidy and out of the way. It comes in gray or silver.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Amazon axes its unlimited Amazon Drive storage plan, puts it on a 1TB diet
Why it matters to you
If you’re an Amazon Drive customer on the unlimited storage plan, then you’ll want to start looking at how to limited your needs to 1TB or less.
For a while, some cloud storage services were offering unlimited storage options. This was a real boon to users, who could store their photos, videos, and important documents offline and in a relatively secure and reliable place for relatively small amounts of money.
The plans got a little too expensive for the service providers, apparently, and so they started reducing their plans to more manageable sizes. Microsoft dropped its own OneDrive unlimited plan to 1TB, and now Amazon has followed suit with its own Amazon Drive.
Previously, Amazon Drive’s top tier offered unlimited storage for $60 a year. Now, that same price point will offer a still-solid 1TB. Amazon will also offer the ability to purchase additional storage at $60 per TB up to a total of 30TB of storage. The new limit goes into effect on Thursday but current unlimited tier customers will retain their unlimited storage through its existing expiration date.
Going forward, Amazon Drive’s plans will start out at $12 per year for 100GB of storage with the next option being the 1TB plan. New customers who sign up for Amazon Drive will get 5GB of storage for free, and Amazon Prime customers will retain unlimited photo storage along with the 5GB of non-photo storage.
If you currently have an unlimited plan and are storing more than 1TB of data, then your service will be considered in over-quote status when your current plan expires. At that point, you will either need to purchase additional storage in sufficient terabyte increments to cover your usage, or you will no longer be able to upload new files. Your existing files will be accessible for viewing, downloading, and deleting. Notably, this will only be the case during the 180-day grace period — after that, Amazon will start deleting files beginning with the most recent uploads until you are below 1TB.
If you are an Amazon Drive customer, then you can always check your storage status at Amazon’s Manage Storage page. That is probably a good thing to do if you’re a current unlimited customer because the sooner you start planning on how to manage your terabytes of files, the better. If you’re looking for an alternative to Amazon Drive, then check out our cloud storage roundup.
Apple employees in China allegedly sold customers’ personal data for $7.36M
Why it matters to you
If you’re traveling to China, you might want to take some precautions to secure your digital data.
The friendly clerks at your local Apple Store are the last people you’d expect to steal your data, but that’s allegedly just what happened in China. According to AFP, an underground network of 22 people — 20 of whom were Apple employees — is suspected of surreptitiously gathered user’s names, phone numbers, Apple IDs, and other data, and selling them in exchange for a collective 50 million yuan ($7.36 million).
The suspects, who stand accused by the Chinese government of infringing individuals’ privacy and illegally obtaining personal information, used Apple’s internal computer system to scrape information they later sold. Employees in the company’s marketing and outsourcing arms auctioned it piecemeal for between 10 ($1.50) and 80 yuan ($26.50), and coordinated with co-conspirators in China’s Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Fujian provinces.
Chinese authorities seized “criminal tools” and dismantled the operation’s online network over the weekend, after a monthslong investigation. The sale of personal information became a criminal offense in China on June 1, as part of a controversial cybersecurity bill aimed at protecting the country’s networks.
It appears to be the first documented case of an Apple employee assisting in data theft. But in China, AFP reports that the sale of personal information is relatively common, where citizens use a personal ID card that can be compromised.
In a report published in The Southern Metropolis Daily, Chinese reporters were able to trace a colleague’s whereabouts for 700 yuan, or $100 — including a full list of hotel rooms checked into, airline flights taken, internet cafes visited, border entries and exits, apartment rentals, and real estate holdings. In a subsequent report, they were able to purchase data to find another colleague’s location in real time via his smartphone, and see information about his bank transactions, driving infractions, train journeys, and even who he stayed with during each hotel visit.
According to the Washington Post, personal data on Chinese citizens can be purchased from hundreds of tracking services advertised on the country’s digital platforms. It’s collected in hacks — and in some cases purchases from police and authorities — of national police databases, government filings, banks records, and mobile carrier contracts.
The revelations come as China prepares to deploy an ambitious, centralized “social credit” system that issues a score based on a person’s “trustworthiness.” A trial of the system in Shanghai, called Honest Shanghai, draws from more than 3,000 individual items collected from nearly 100 government entities to determine an individual’s public score –“very good,” “good,” or “very bad.” Good scores earn rewards like discounted airline tickets, and bad scores could one day lead to problems getting loans and seats on planes.
Apple employees in China allegedly sold customers’ personal data for $7.36M
Why it matters to you
If you’re traveling to China, you might want to take some precautions to secure your digital data.
The friendly clerks at your local Apple Store are the last people you’d expect to steal your data, but that’s allegedly just what happened in China. According to AFP, an underground network of 22 people — 20 of whom were Apple employees — is suspected of surreptitiously gathered user’s names, phone numbers, Apple IDs, and other data, and selling them in exchange for a collective 50 million yuan ($7.36 million).
The suspects, who stand accused by the Chinese government of infringing individuals’ privacy and illegally obtaining personal information, used Apple’s internal computer system to scrape information they later sold. Employees in the company’s marketing and outsourcing arms auctioned it piecemeal for between 10 ($1.50) and 80 yuan ($26.50), and coordinated with co-conspirators in China’s Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Fujian provinces.
Chinese authorities seized “criminal tools” and dismantled the operation’s online network over the weekend, after a monthslong investigation. The sale of personal information became a criminal offense in China on June 1, as part of a controversial cybersecurity bill aimed at protecting the country’s networks.
It appears to be the first documented case of an Apple employee assisting in data theft. But in China, AFP reports that the sale of personal information is relatively common, where citizens use a personal ID card that can be compromised.
In a report published in The Southern Metropolis Daily, Chinese reporters were able to trace a colleague’s whereabouts for 700 yuan, or $100 — including a full list of hotel rooms checked into, airline flights taken, internet cafes visited, border entries and exits, apartment rentals, and real estate holdings. In a subsequent report, they were able to purchase data to find another colleague’s location in real time via his smartphone, and see information about his bank transactions, driving infractions, train journeys, and even who he stayed with during each hotel visit.
According to the Washington Post, personal data on Chinese citizens can be purchased from hundreds of tracking services advertised on the country’s digital platforms. It’s collected in hacks — and in some cases purchases from police and authorities — of national police databases, government filings, banks records, and mobile carrier contracts.
The revelations come as China prepares to deploy an ambitious, centralized “social credit” system that issues a score based on a person’s “trustworthiness.” A trial of the system in Shanghai, called Honest Shanghai, draws from more than 3,000 individual items collected from nearly 100 government entities to determine an individual’s public score –“very good,” “good,” or “very bad.” Good scores earn rewards like discounted airline tickets, and bad scores could one day lead to problems getting loans and seats on planes.
Pre-order Samsung’s slim Notebook 9 Pro 2-in-1 at Best Buy on June 11
Why it matters to you
Customers looking for a thin and light 2-in-1 device will have two options starting June 11, with Samsung’s Notebook 9 Pro in 13.3- and 15-inch models.
Samsung said on Thursday that customers can pre-purchase the upcoming Notebook 9 Pro 2-in-1 device on Best Buy’s website starting Sunday, June 11. Hitting retail shelves on June 26, it will be sold in two sizes and pack a seventh-generation Intel Core i7-7500U processor into a Titan Silver-themed form factor measuring as thin as 0.63 inches thick. Both will ship with Samsung’s battery-free S Pen peripheral.
Here are the set specifications for both models:
Notebook 9 Pro 13
Notebook 9 Pro 15
Screen size:
13.3 inches
15 inches
Screen resolution:
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
Touch support:
Yes
Yes
Processor:
Intel Core i7-7500U
Graphics:
Intel HD Graphics 620
AMD Radeon RX 540 (2GB)
System memory:
8GB DDR4
16GB DDR4
Storage:
256GB SSD
Connectivity:
Wireless AC (2×2) (up to 867Gbps)
Bluetooth 4.1
Camera:
720p HD Camera
Infrared camera
Audio:
2x 1.5-watt SoundAlive speakers
Internal dual array microphone
Keyboard:
Island-type
Backlit
1.5mm travel distance
Ports:
2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C
1x HDMI
1x Microphone/headphone jack
1x MicroSD card reader
Battery:
54 watt-hour
Dimensions (inches):
12.21 x 8.54 x 0.63
13.67 x 9.41 x 0.67
AC Adapter:
40-watt
60-watt
Weight:
2.91 pounds
3.79 pounds
Operating system:
Windows 10 Home
Color:
Titan Silver
Included input:
S Pen
Availability:
June 26
Price:
$1,100
$1,300
Samsung’s Notebook 9 Pro 2-in-1 includes a 360-degree hinge enabling four modes: Notebook, tablet, stand, and tent. It complements the company’s RealView Display sporting wide viewing angles and two specific brightness levels: a bright 350 nits in Normal Mode, and an even brighter 450 nits in Outdoor Mode. The specifications also list a 720p HD webcam and an IR camera, the latter of which presumably supports Windows Hello’s facial recognition feature.
Note that the 13.3-inch model relies on the integrated graphics component in Intel’s Core i7 processor while the 15-inch model has a discrete Radeon RX 540 graphics chip from AMD. For PC gamers, the Radeon chip is the better option, as it has a speed of up to 1,219MHz compared to Intel’s integrated component with a maximum speed of 1,050MHz. The discrete AMD graphics chip also has 2GB of dedicated video memory.
Samsung’s S Pen is parked in a special slot at the front of the 2-in-1 device. It measures 4.5 inches long and includes a 0.7mm tip that supports more than 4,000 levels of pressure. Once users remove this pen from its designated slot, Samsung’s Air Command interface automatically launches, providing tools for taking on-screen handwritten notes, edit documents, select items on-screen, and more.
“The Notebook 9 Pro is a revolutionary extension of Samsung’s notebook line, designed for today’s multitasking professional,” said Alanna Cotton, vice president and general manager of product marketing at Samsung Electronics America. “With the Notebook 9 Pro, we’ve delivered our most versatile PC yet — a powerful laptop with an embedded S Pen that delivers function, performance, and design in one device.”
As previously stated, Best Buy customers can prepurchase either Notebook 9 Pro 2-in-1 device online starting June 11, with the 13.3-inch model costing $1,100 and the 15-inch model costing $1,300. Both 2-in-1 devices will officially hit retail shelves on June 26.
Pre-order Samsung’s slim Notebook 9 Pro 2-in-1 at Best Buy on June 11
Why it matters to you
Customers looking for a thin and light 2-in-1 device will have two options starting June 11, with Samsung’s Notebook 9 Pro in 13.3- and 15-inch models.
Samsung said on Thursday that customers can pre-purchase the upcoming Notebook 9 Pro 2-in-1 device on Best Buy’s website starting Sunday, June 11. Hitting retail shelves on June 26, it will be sold in two sizes and pack a seventh-generation Intel Core i7-7500U processor into a Titan Silver-themed form factor measuring as thin as 0.63 inches thick. Both will ship with Samsung’s battery-free S Pen peripheral.
Here are the set specifications for both models:
Notebook 9 Pro 13
Notebook 9 Pro 15
Screen size:
13.3 inches
15 inches
Screen resolution:
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
Touch support:
Yes
Yes
Processor:
Intel Core i7-7500U
Graphics:
Intel HD Graphics 620
AMD Radeon RX 540 (2GB)
System memory:
8GB DDR4
16GB DDR4
Storage:
256GB SSD
Connectivity:
Wireless AC (2×2) (up to 867Gbps)
Bluetooth 4.1
Camera:
720p HD Camera
Infrared camera
Audio:
2x 1.5-watt SoundAlive speakers
Internal dual array microphone
Keyboard:
Island-type
Backlit
1.5mm travel distance
Ports:
2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C
1x HDMI
1x Microphone/headphone jack
1x MicroSD card reader
Battery:
54 watt-hour
Dimensions (inches):
12.21 x 8.54 x 0.63
13.67 x 9.41 x 0.67
AC Adapter:
40-watt
60-watt
Weight:
2.91 pounds
3.79 pounds
Operating system:
Windows 10 Home
Color:
Titan Silver
Included input:
S Pen
Availability:
June 26
Price:
$1,100
$1,300
Samsung’s Notebook 9 Pro 2-in-1 includes a 360-degree hinge enabling four modes: Notebook, tablet, stand, and tent. It complements the company’s RealView Display sporting wide viewing angles and two specific brightness levels: a bright 350 nits in Normal Mode, and an even brighter 450 nits in Outdoor Mode. The specifications also list a 720p HD webcam and an IR camera, the latter of which presumably supports Windows Hello’s facial recognition feature.
Note that the 13.3-inch model relies on the integrated graphics component in Intel’s Core i7 processor while the 15-inch model has a discrete Radeon RX 540 graphics chip from AMD. For PC gamers, the Radeon chip is the better option, as it has a speed of up to 1,219MHz compared to Intel’s integrated component with a maximum speed of 1,050MHz. The discrete AMD graphics chip also has 2GB of dedicated video memory.
Samsung’s S Pen is parked in a special slot at the front of the 2-in-1 device. It measures 4.5 inches long and includes a 0.7mm tip that supports more than 4,000 levels of pressure. Once users remove this pen from its designated slot, Samsung’s Air Command interface automatically launches, providing tools for taking on-screen handwritten notes, edit documents, select items on-screen, and more.
“The Notebook 9 Pro is a revolutionary extension of Samsung’s notebook line, designed for today’s multitasking professional,” said Alanna Cotton, vice president and general manager of product marketing at Samsung Electronics America. “With the Notebook 9 Pro, we’ve delivered our most versatile PC yet — a powerful laptop with an embedded S Pen that delivers function, performance, and design in one device.”
As previously stated, Best Buy customers can prepurchase either Notebook 9 Pro 2-in-1 device online starting June 11, with the 13.3-inch model costing $1,100 and the 15-inch model costing $1,300. Both 2-in-1 devices will officially hit retail shelves on June 26.
19th-century ‘dandy horse’ throwback bike is a hipster’s dream come true
Why it matters to you
Saarland University’s retro bicycle revival shows that even obsolete tech stands to benefit from a 21st-century upgrade.
Disconcerted by the fact that mustache wax and beard oil is now for sale in strip malls? Saddened that Mason jar cocktails can be ordered alongside Budweiser in your nearest chain restaurant? Fearful that the Walkman you carry around is no longer clearly ironically retro enough?
If you are a 2017 hipster in search of the ultimate vintage, nonconformist statement, you could do a lot worse than checking out the vehicle created by a team of computer scientists at Germany’s Saarland University. Combining a two-wheeled mode of transportation that precedes the bicycle with the latest Arduino tech, they have built a modern version of the draisine or “dandy horse.”
“What we have developed is a symbiosis of old and new,” Ph.D. student Gereon Fox told Digital Trends. “We took the invention that Karl Drais made in 1817: A wooden means of transportation that is propelled by pushing with your feet — and combined it with today’s electric motor support bike technology. The result is a bike that looks a bit like we stole it from a museum, but if you examine it carefully, you see all the wires and sensors, the motor, the battery, and the Raspberry Pi computer that controls the whole vehicle.”
The wooden bike uses its sensors to detect when the user pushes with his feet, in order to amplify these pushes with the motor. In terms of smart tech, it packs a 200-watt rear hub motor, a battery mounted on the frame, an accelerometer, a Raspberry Pi microcomputer, and an RPM-measuring magnetic sensor in the rear wheel.
“We built this prototype because we, as computer scientists, needed to learn how to actually program a bike,” Fox continued. “Now that we have gained some understanding of this, the next step is to evaluate the current verification technology in order to identify its weaknesses and shortcomings when it comes to applying it to a system of this complexity. We do not really aim for commercialization of a wooden Draisine because, although it has a motor, it’s still a bit harder to ride than one with proper pedals.”
In other words, you will not be able to buy it on Amazon anytime soon. But wouldn’t it kind of ruin the high-tech hipster ethos if you could?
Google pushes update that lays the groundwork for Google Home calling
Why it matters to you
Google Home is about to get a pretty significant update, including one that could allow you to manually reroute your Assistant requests.
Google wants to make it easier for you to control your smart home. To that end, the company has pushed an update to the Google Home app that brings some pretty major and helpful changes, including the ability to manually reroute voice commands to the user’s smartphone.
The app update was first spotted by Android Police, which notes that it also lays the groundwork for Google Home calling — a feature coming to the smart speaker at some point in the near future. Using Google Home, you can simply ask the Google Assistant to make a call, and it will call from a masked number by default, or from your phone number if you link that number.
The update clears some of the air as to how this works — while some theorized that the feature will still occur through the user’s phone but would use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to handle the audio, in reality it looks like the phone number is linked directly to Google Home, and calls are handled through Google Voice. The update also shows that, at least for now, only outgoing calls can be handled through Google Home — and you’ll have to answer incoming calls on your actual phone. It’s possible support for incoming calls will be added in the near future.
As mentioned, the app also offers manual control over which Google Assistant answers any given question. You might have multiple versions of Assistant at your disposal — one on your phone, another on your Google Home speaker, and another on your Android TV. According to Android Police, it’s not yet known exactly how you’ll be able to manually select an Assistant, but a string of code in the update does refer to it being possible — so presumably we’re waiting for Google to enable the feature.
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