close

Technology

Technology

Google Bard could soon become Gemini and appear in more apps

The AI chatbot Google Bard is now one of the fastest evolving apps in the Google collection, and it appears that its branding will also alter, with Google planning to rename it Gemini.

Developer Dylan Roussel (via Engadget) claims to have discovered a list of upcoming Google Bard improvements. It is dated this coming Wednesday, February 7, and the main alteration is that Bard will be renamed Gemini.

Google Gemini is the name of the next-generation AI model that currently powers Bard, so it makes logical to drop one of the monikers. Also, there appears to be a dedicated Android app in the works, at least in the United States.

Gemini for Android will work with apps such as Gmail, Google Maps, and YouTube, according to the update text. If you have an iPhone, Google claims you will be able to test out Gemini using the existing Google app for iOS.

Receive the message

Another detail from this leak is that a paid subscription tier will be offered dubbed Gemini Advanced. This was previously rumored, and it suggests Google will have both free and paid-for AI bot levels, like OpenAI and ChatGPT do.

Speaking of prior rumors, tipster @AssembleDebug (via Android Police) discovered a contact page for Bard (soon to be Gemini) inside Google Messages, with the concept that you can interact with the AI just like you would any other contact.

Hints of this connectivity appeared last month, and apps like Snapchat have already included it. It appears that most apps will eventually have Google’s AI helper.

All of this has yet to be confirmed, but it appears like we are in for one of the most significant weeks for Google’s AI programs. Apple is likely to disclose its own generative AI work later this year, with the release of iOS 18.

read more
Technology

Apple says AI features are coming to your iPhone ‘later this year’—here’s what to anticipate

For the past year or two, the world has seen a slew of fantastic artificial intelligence (AI) products emerge, leaving everyone wondering when Apple will join the party. Now we finally have an answer.

On a recent earnings call (via The Verge), Apple CEO Tim Cook disclosed that AI features will be available on the company’s devices as early as “later this year.” Cook went on to say, “I think there’s a huge opportunity for Apple with generative AI.” While the Apple CEO did not divulge any information, the little he did mention has already sparked discussion.

It’s hardly surprising that Apple is working on generative AI tools; Cook confirmed as much in August 2023, when he stated that the company has been creating its own generative AI “for years.” But the most recent admission is the first time we’ve heard anyone set a launch date, even if it’s only a preliminary estimate.

Given that this is a software update (and a significant one at that), it appears that Apple has the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in mind. This June event will be used by the firm to announce new operating systems and software upgrades (such as iOS 18). And with its audience mostly comprised of developers, it makes sense for Apple to tease something like generative AI that could give devs a new tool in their iOS arsenal.

Furthermore, industry analyst Jeff Pu has already claimed that iOS 18 will be one of Apple’s biggest software releases ever due to the addition of generative AI, and Cook’s words appear to back up Pu’s claim. That means there could be a lot to look forward to during WWDC, including some huge new features for your iPhone.

What is on its way here?

The most likely improvement Cook is alluding to is a new version of Apple’s Siri voice assistant. According to Bloomberg’s reliable Apple pundit Mark Gurman, iOS 18 will be “one of the biggest iOS updates – if not the biggest – in the company’s history” and will be mostly connected to a “big upgrade to Siri”.

According to Revegnus, another well-known leaker, Apple is developing a proprietary LLM (long language model) to “completely revamp Siri into the ultimate virtual assistant”. It’s about time; while Siri was stunning when it first launched over a decade ago, it has since plateaued. So we can anticipate a lot more conversational and strong voice assistant by the end of 2024.

But what else might benefit from Apple’s work in generative AI? Messages, Apple Music, and Pages are all anticipated to gain big AI-based improvements later this year, and several of Apple’s competitors have lately hinted at what to expect. Google Messages will soon receive Bard skills to aid with texting, and Spotify has already demonstrated that AI-powered DJs are the future of music.

Finally, there’s photography and video, but Apple appears to be taking a more cautious approach than Samsung and Google. The Galaxy S24 cameras rely heavily on AI capabilities, which are somewhat mixed. While Instant Slow-Mo (which creates extra frames of film to convert regular 4K/60p video into slow motion clips) is incredibly clever generative Edit is useful, but it opens the door to digital fraud (even with watermarks).

It will be fascinating to observe how Apple handles this line in all facets of the iPhone. However, another important iPhone feature, privacy, may limit Apple’s ability to go too far with generative AI…

Why is Apple taking its time?

Apple has been repeatedly chastised for not developing its own generative AI, especially because archrival Microsoft has been so successful in spreading its Copilot AI to practically every area of Windows and its own apps.

But there’s a likely reason for Apple’s sluggishness, and it’s related to consumer privacy. Apple takes a strong stand on this, frequently touting its products’ privacy-protecting features as one of their primary advantages. AI tools are infamous for collecting user data and making privacy concessions, so it’s no surprise that Apple has taken its time with this, presumably to ensure that AI is as pro-privacy as possible.

Furthermore, Apple does not normally rush into a new market before it is ready instead, it prefers to wait a bit longer before overwhelming its competitors with something it believes is far superior. We saw it with the original iPhone, as well as the Apple Vision Pro, and it appears that generative AI is the newest object to receive this treatment from Apple.

It’s unclear whether Apple’s AI is better than ChatGPT and Copilot, but it appears that we’ll find out sooner rather than later.

read more
Technology

Apple claims there are still ‘plenty of reasons’ to buy Watch Series 9, despite the forbidden feature

The new year did not start well for the Apple Watch, as a patent dispute with medical technology firm Masimo led Apple to disable the blood oxygen sensor in every Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 sold. That must have damaged a firm with so much money and power.

However, this does not imply you should stop purchasing Apple Watches, at least according to CEO Tim Cook. In a new interview with CNBC (via AppleInsider), Cook stated that users should not hesitate to spend money on the company’s smartwatches. During the conversation, the Apple CEO stated, “There are many reasons to buy the watch even without the blood oxygen sensor.”

To be fair to Cook, he is not completely wrong. The Apple Watch is one of the greatest smartwatches on the market right now and has been for years, and it’s filled with class-leading features that set it apart from the competition. Even without the now-disabled monitor, it has a lot to offer.

However, it seemed odd for the CEO of a huge corporation like Apple to feel the need to remind customers why they should purchase one of its most popular items. Perhaps Apple is feeling the pressure from its patent issue with Masimo, and we can see why.

No end is in sight

The passage above was not all Cook had to say about the subject. When asked if Apple intended to settle with Masimo and license its patented technology, Cook was unequivocal: “We’re focused on appeal,” the CEO stated, seemingly ruling out the possibility of a quick resolution to the proceedings. This means that the litigation could last several months or longer. With no end in sight, Apple’s blood oxygen monitor may remain unavailable for an extended period of time.

This could potentially reduce its appeal to some people. While Cook is correct that there are many other compelling reasons to purchase an Apple Watch, if you wanted one exclusively for the blood oxygen sensor, your alternatives are now more limited.

However, this does not rule out the possibility of purchasing an Apple Watch with a monitor anyplace. Apple may have been prohibited from selling watches with the feature, but third-party merchants such as Amazon and Best Buy can continue to trade current stock. So, if you truly want this functionality, you can go there and get one instead.

read more
Technology

Google Bard finally gets a free AI picture generator – here’s how to use it

Given how popular image generation is right now, Google Bard’s recent update, which includes AI image generation, is all but inevitable.

According to the official Google Bard update website, utilizing the tool is really straightforward. To use the AI image generator, simply enter “a few words” into the search bar, “starting with English prompts.” Then, “click ‘Generate more’ for more options and download the ones you like.”

Those generated photos are saved in bookmarked chats, recent chats, and Bard Activity, and can be removed from Bard Activity by deleting the prompt that created them.

Bard’s image generation is powered by the new Imagen 2 model, which is designed to balance speed and quality to produce photorealistic images. The new feature is available worldwide, including in the United States, but not in the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, or the United Kingdom. It is also only available in English and for people aged 18 and up, however how Google would enforce the age limitation beyond a basic ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ inquiry is unclear.

In terms of responsibility, Google claims on its official blog that “Bard uses SynthID to embed digitally identifiable watermarks into the pixels of generated images,” distinguishing its AI-made images from those created by humans. Most likely, this feature was designed to discourage people from exploiting created photographs for commercial purposes, which would open up a legal can of worms.

Google also claims that it aims to minimize violent, offensive, or sexual content in training data, as well as use filters to prevent named individuals from being engaged in image generation.

We made the first two images using a basic prompt and then selected “Generate more” to see the second two.

Bard using Gemini Pro will also benefit from this new update. On the page for the upgrade, it says that “Bard will be far more capable at things like understanding, summarising, reasoning, brainstorming, writing, and planning.” This improvement to Bard’s AI is most likely what enabled Google to provide the free AI image generation tool in the first place, as well as support.

Google Bard is taking over

Google has gone all in with its Bard AI, gradually replacing Google Assistant, the company’s prior response to Apple’s Siri. It was discovered that Google modified the greeting pop-up for several devices from ‘I’m Assistant with Bard’ to just ‘I’m Bard.’

It was also stated that Google would be deleting 17 Assistant functions in the coming weeks, including the ability to play audiobooks on Google Play Books using voice commands and inquire for contact information. The official notification even suggested that other functions will be deleted.

read more
Technology

Are you not already spending enough on Amazon? Its new AI chatbot is there to help

If there is one technological advance that our bank accounts did not require in 2024, it is an Amazon chatbot with limitless awareness of the site’s possible impulse purchases. Unfortunately for our savings, Rufus is exactly what we have just received.

Amazon claims its Rufus chatbot has now launched in beta form in the US to “a small subset of customers” who use its mobile app, but that it will “progressively roll out to additional US customers in the coming weeks”. Rufus is allegedly “an expert shopping assistant” who has been schooled on Amazon’s product catalog and will respond to your questions in a conversational manner.

Rather than Googling for further information on the distinctions between trail and road running shoes, the concept is that you can rather search for instructions on the Amazon app and Rufus will pop up with the answers.

It remains to be seen how good those answers are, as Amazon claims they originate from “a combination of extensive product catalog, customer reviews, community Q&As, and information from across the web”. Given the fluctuating quality of Amazon reviews and the tendency of AI chatbots to hallucinate, you may wish to supplement your study with some additional sources.

Still, it’s an early view into the future of buying, with shops attempting to provide you with all of the information you require so that you may, well, spend more money with them. According to Amazon, the inquiries can range from “What are good gifts for Valentine’s Day?” to “Is this cordless drill easy to hold?” if you’re on a product page.

How to Find and Use Rufus

Rufus is now only available to “selected customers when they next update their Amazon Shopping app”. However, if you live in the United States and want to try it out, you should update your iOS or Android app to see if you’re among the first to be chosen.

If you are, the top bar of the app should now read “search or ask a question”. That’s where you can ask Rufus questions like “what to consider when buying headphones?” or give him prompts like “best dinosaur toys for a 5-year-old” or “I want to start an indoor garden”.

The option to ask specific questions about products on their product pages appears useful, however this will essentially be a summary of the page’s Q&As and reviews. Given our previous experience with AI purchasing chatbots, we would be hesitant to accept things at face value without double-checking with another source.

Still, Rufus’s wider US release in “the coming weeks” is a significant upgrade to the Amazon app, and it has the potential to transform how we purchase with the retail giant. Amazon will undoubtedly hope it persuades us to spend more; perhaps we need two chatbots, one alerting us about our overdraft.

read more
Technology

Jeep provides a sneak peek inside its future electric SUV, and it looks rather amazing

In response to a recent inadvertent Facebook breach, Jeep has opted to provide a more official peek inside its highly awaited Wagoneer S electric vehicle, which is set to go on sale in the United States next year, with European models following.

The Wagoneer S is clearly aimed at premium brands like Range Rover and Lexus, with screens and digital displays all over the place. There’s a monitor in front of the steering wheel, a larger central infotainment system, and a small interactive touchscreen beneath it that appears to control climate and other comfort elements.

Finally, the front passenger gets a screen, something we’ve seen Porsche embrace recently in its Taycan, Macan EV, and future Panamera.

The off-road specialist promises that the electric SUV would include “mindful materials and design-focused features” such as a “tailored driver control centre with a unique Jeep brand-exclusive Selec-Terrain toggle and dynamic, color-selectable ambient lighting”.

Jeep further stated that the Wagoneer S will have “a standard dual-pane panoramic sunroof” and “a discerningly tuned, segment-exclusive, 19-speaker, premium flagship McIntosh audio system”.

On the matter of the Select-Terrain toggle, early photographs show that it has Sand, Snow, Eco, Auto, and Sport modes, indicating that Jeep isn’t messing around with capability. This looks set to be an EV that can also do the Jeep stuff that discerning customers expect.

Unfortunately, the company is still keeping official specifications under wraps, but the photographs show that the Wagoneer S will not be small, measuring roughly five meters or more in length. The fact that it will be an early adopter of parent firm Stellantis’ latest STLA big architecture emphasizes this point even further.

Jeep has already stated that the electric engine can go from 0 to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds, due to a 600bhp electric motor setup that sends power to all four wheels. The all-electric range is also estimated to be more than 370 miles.


Analysis: Jeep is moving into premium territory

It appears that electrification is a fantastic reason for many manufacturers to try to go more upscale, tapping into a client base that would have previously purchased brands such as Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and even Range Rover.

It’s understandable, given how pricey current battery technology is, resulting in a price difference when compared to internal combustion engine equivalents. With that in mind, numerous manufacturers have attempted to improve the quality of their electric products in an effort to justify these lofty forecourt figures.

Jeep also appears to be hitting the reset button, with both the Wagoneer S and the upcoming electric Recon model combining the brand’s well-known ruggedness with an element of opulence.

Whereas a model like the Wrangler (which Recon aims to compete with and potentially replace) formerly served as a dependable albeit unpolished workhorse, the electric versions will feature more premium-feeling interiors and next-generation infotainment systems.

However, as Land Rover did with its most recent Defender, Jeep may face customer reaction as buyers complain about the lack of affordable and capable machinery on the market.

While the electric revolution is certainly raising the bar in terms of interior luxury, forward-thinking exterior design, and cutting-edge technology, it is currently doing little for those who want something that can be hosed down after a filthy mountain bike session and topped up in the wilderness with a Jerry can.

read more
Technology

Elon Musk’s Neuralink has completed its first human brain implant, and we’re one step closer to having phones inside our skulls

Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain interface firm, reached a key milestone this week, with Musk announcing on X (previously Twitter) that “the first human received an implant from yesterday and is recovering well.”

Driven by concerns that AI may soon overtake (or outthink) humans, Musk first presented the concept of a brain-to-computer interface, known as Neural Lace, in 2016. Imagine an implant that could overcome the limits inherent in human-computer communication. Musk said that an interface capable of reading brain impulses and delivering them directly to computer systems would vastly outperform traditional keyboard and mouse interactions.

Four years later, Musk demonstrated early clinical studies with an unwilling pig, and in 2021, the business placed the gadget in a monkey, which utilized the interface to control a game of Pong.

It was all fun and games until last week, when Musk announced a human experiment and introduced some new branding.

Neuralink’s initial product is now dubbed ‘Telepathy’, which, according to another Musk tweet, “enables control of your phone or computer, and through them almost any device, just by thinking.”

As expected, these brain implants are not suited for everyone at this time. In 2020, Musk stated that the goal is “to solve important spine and brain problems with a seamlessly implanted device.” Musk stated last week that “the first users will be those who have lost the use of their limbs.” Consider whether Stephen Hawking could communicate faster than a speed typist or auctioneer. “That is the goal.”

What is Neuralink Telepathy?

Neural link devices, such as Telepathy, are bio-safe implants made up of little disk-like devices (about the thickness of four coins placed together) with ultra-fine wires flowing out of them that connect to various areas of the brain. The filaments read neural spikes, which are then interpreted by a computer interface to determine the subject’s intents and translate them into action on a phone or desktop computer. In this first testing, Musk stated that “initial results show promising neuron spike detection,” but he did not expand on whether the patient was able to manipulate anything with his mind.

Musk did not explain the surgical implantation technique. However, in 2020, Neuralink released their Link surgery robot, which promised to implant Neuralink devices with minimal pain, blood, and, we assume, trauma. We’re not sure how it’s feasible given that the implant is located beneath the skin and skull, as well as on the brain. It’s also unclear whether Neuralink used Link to install ‘Telepathy.’

The new branding isn’t too far-fetched. While most people associate telepathy with people sending thoughts to one another, the definition is “the communication of thoughts or ideas by means other than the known senses.”

A phone in your skull

Nonetheless, Musk has a history of using hyperbole to describe Neuralink. During one early demonstration, he only half-joked, “It’s sort of like if your phone went into your brain.” He later stated, “In the future, you will be able to save and replay memories.”

With the first Neuralink Telepathy device successfully installed, Musk looks to be more cautious. There was no press conference or parade of the patient for the reporters. We only have a few tweets and a few specifics on a brain implant that Musk hopes will help humans keep up with rapidly evolving AIs.

It’s worth remembering that, for all of Musk’s bluster and occasionally offensive hyperbole, he was more accurate than he realized about where AI would be by 2024. Back in 2016, there were no ChatGPT, Google Bard, or Microsoft CoPilot. We didn’t have AI in Windows or Photoshop’s Firefly, let alone realistic AI photos and movies or deepfakes. Concerns about AIs snatching employment are increasingly real, and the prospect of humans slipping behind artificial intelligence appears less like a sci-fi fantasy and more like our future.

Are our worries making us more willing to sign up for brain implants? Musk is betting on it.

read more
Technology

Google Bard AI’s addition to Messages may transform the way we text a long time

Google’s experimental AI chatbot Bard may be coming to the Google Messages app soon, and it promises to significantly improve phone-based interactions.

Tipster Assembler Debug discovered the feature in Google Messages’ beta code. The AI-enhanced features are not yet accessible, and Assembler Debug reports that they do not appear to work. According to leaked photos, you may use Bard to help you write text messages, plan a date, and craft a sick note to your boss, among other unpleasant talks.

Bard in Google Messages may also help you interpret conversations, recognize photographs, and discover new interests. The coding shows that it may also provide book recommendations and cooking ideas.

According to an investigation of its code, the app is thought to leverage your location data and previous chat information to generate more accurate responses. You can, however, provide input to Bard’s response by long tapping a thumbs up or down, as well as copy, forward, and favorite its replies, allowing the AI to understand whether or not its response was acceptable.

The project codename “Penpal” was found in a beta version (20240111_04_RC00) of the Google Messages app. According to 9to5Google’s beta code insights, Bard may be accessible by selecting the “New conversation” option, which allows you to use Bard as a standalone chat option.

You must be at least 18 years old to use it, and discussions with Bard in the Messages app are not end-to-end encrypted or treated as private, unlike messages exchanged with contacts. So, if Bard is enabled, you may want to avoid sending personal or sensitive messages using the app.

Google claims that conversation records are saved for eighteen months to help improve Bard and can be reviewed by a human, but no information is tied with your account after three years. Google advises not to say anything to Bard that you don’t want others to see. Conversations with Bard may be examined by Google but are not available to other users. You can, however, delete your conversation history with Bard at any moment; the data will be removed after 72 hours.

Echoes of Allo

Bard AI’s integration in the Messages app is reminiscent of the previous effort Google Allo, which used the Google Assistant in both stand-alone inquiries and chats. This service was discontinued in 2019, but it may linger on in some form through the Bard integration.

When confronted with the question, Bard replied: “While I can’t say for certain right now, there are strong indications that I might become available with Google RCS messages in the future.”

Bard went on to state that integration with Google Messages would be tested in March 2023, and that the functionality matches with Bard’s ability to interpret language, generate text, answer queries, and summarize information, making it a perfect fit for enhancing messages.

The integration of AI into messaging apps mirrors many firms’ enthusiasm to incorporate AI technologies into their forthcoming smartphones, with Samsung’s Galaxy AI capabilities serving as a recent example. Google, on the other hand, is no stranger to AI tools on its phones, with Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, and Live Translate all being standard capabilities on Pixel devices.

The ramifications of AI being added to messages are also intriguing, since you may never know whether that thoughtful response or wonderful date idea was generated by a person or their AI helper.

Although Bard’s inclusion in Google’s messaging app is not yet ready, and no release date has been announced, Google may decide not to proceed with the project. Google could take the Samsung approach and make its functions this is a subscription-based feature. However, all of this is guesswork at the moment, and we’ll have to wait and see how much Bard changes the Messages app in the future.

read more
Technology

Amazon tests a new AI assistant that will answer your inquiries while you shop

Amazon is apparently testing a new AI assistant on its mobile app that can respond to user inquiries about specific products.

This function appears to have been found first by e-commerce research firm Marketplace Pulse. According to the company, the AI is available on product sites under the “Looking for specific info?” area. The LLM (large language model) that powers the functionality generates responses to inquiries based on company listing facts and user feedback. For example, you can inquire whether a specific fitness jersey is appropriate for running or if it fits well on a tall person. Marketplace Pulse’s main objective is to save users the hassle of having to read individual evaluations by summarizing all of the information provided in a concise chunk of text.

The AI assistant’s capabilities are limited due to its early stage. You cannot instruct it to compare two goods or “find alternatives.” Although it cannot promote specific products, Amazon’s chatbot can give indirect recommendations. In another case, MarketPlace Pulse questioned the app assistant if e-bikes were suitable for romantic occasions. The AI replied “not really” and suggested purchasing a tandem bike instead.

Quirks and unexpected features

There are various idiosyncrasies that impact the chatbot. Unsurprisingly, it is “prone [to] hallucinating wrong information” about a product. According to MarketPlace Pulse, it flatly refused to “answer basic questions”. Furthermore, the assistant may answer queries that “Amazon didn’t build it for.”

It can generate Python code, write product-related jokes, and provide responses in languages other than English. CNBC had access to the test and was apparently able to describe goods “in the style of Yoda from Star Wars.” Despite these powers, you cannot have a regular conversation with the AI, as you can with ChatGPT.

It’s unclear how widespread the test is. We didn’t have access to our phones. So yet, Amazon has not made any public announcements, but we contacted the platform to learn more about the AI. We also questioned Marketplace Pulse if it knew whether the helper was available to everyone or just a select few. This story will be updated later.

Alexa upgrade

Amazon’s AI ambitions do not end there, according to Business Insider, who reports that the tech giant is now working on a revised and paid version of Alexa. The improvement is named Alexa Plus, and it is intended to provide a “more conversational and personalized” experience, similar to ChatGPT.

The company intends to debut Alexa Plus on June 30, according to the article. Unfortunately, development is not progressing smoothly. According to an insider, the redesign is “falling short of expectations”. The AI is supposedly hallucinating erroneous information while the team struggles to get the technology to work properly. The initiative may also be causing a lot of internal strife with some believing customers are not likely to want to pay for another Amazon service.

At first sight, it appears that Alexa Plus may miss the June 30 deadline.

read more
Technology

Android Auto adds additional AI tools to reduce driver distraction

Google’s recent statement coincided with the debut of the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, announcing that its Android Auto offering will soon receive some welcome changes to make it easier and less distracting for drivers to connect with their smartphones while behind the wheel.

Android Auto, which is the Google-powered version of Apple CarPlay rather than the automotive operating system on which a few modern carmakers base their infotainment offerings, allows Android smartphone users to gain access to a variety of apps and features that would otherwise be out of bounds and potentially illegal to use while driving.

The most current upgrades use AI to summarize long messages or hectic group chats, highlighting the main points so the driver (and passengers) do not have to listen to a robotic voice assistant reading out large portions of prose.

For example, if a friend texts about dinner arrangements, the system will now highlight crucial details such as the restaurant, type of food, and meeting time, saving you the trouble of listening to their amateur reviews or ideas on tonight’s specials.

Similarly, if your phone is inundated with group messages, Android Auto may summarize the conversation and then provide pertinent responses and actions without requiring you to pick up your phone. This could include rerouting to a new location (as discussed in the group chat) or informing everyone of your estimated arrival time.

In addition, Google claims that Android Auto will eventually reflect personalized design elements from the owner’s smartphone, such as wallpapers and icons, which would then appear on the infotainment display.


Opinion: motivated by distraction

Anyone who has tried to respond to messages using a favorite in-vehicle voice assistance will understand the dangers. Despite impeccable diction, the digital transcriber can easily get words, sentences, and numbers wrong, forcing the driver to start over.

This intrinsic clunkiness is often as annoying as staring at a phone screen, but Google’s planned upgrades should make things simpler and smoother.

The fact that AI highlights crucial aspects shortens the time it takes to digest busy group conversations and try to figure out what’s going on, whilst shortcut responses require only one tap rather than crafting a complete reply from scratch.

Similarly, automatically re-routing to a new proposed meeting spot or updating an ETA with a single click decreases the amount of engagement with an infotainment system. Anything that keeps a driver’s attention on the road is a good thing.

read more