Google Assistant

Japan-based Line added Google Assistant to its messaging app for Android, allowing the service to be accessed hands-free via voice commands, as it seeks to improve user experience of the communications platform.

Mobile World Live spoke to Carla Echevarria, design lead for Google Assistant, about how bias can creep into AI systems, why that matters and how to combat the problem.

Google expanded access to private search and data deletion tools across Maps, Assistant and YouTube, as part of an ongoing effort to quell consumer fears about data collection.

Google pledged not to allow its staff to listen to conversations on its voice Assistant without user consent, in a move designed to ease concerns around data privacy.

Google launched new voices for its virtual assistant in nine countries, bolstering efforts to expand users’ choices and bring more diversity to its service.

Google integrated its Assistant technology into Waze, allowing users to activate functions in the traffic app using their voice. With Assistant, Google said Waze users can play music and podcasts, send messages and place calls without leaving the navigation screen.

Google flagged new user privacy controls as it unveiled fresh hardware, its latest Android OS and updates to Assistant at its annual I/O conference.