Waze Conversational Reporting: Just tell Gemini AI what you see

And as Google Lab’s editorial director showcases in the following tweet, the AI can understand just about any kind of source material — including handwritten notes. These make the content creation process less complicated, allowing easier storytelling while making more complex technical tasks easier and within reach for everyone. With AI tools on the rise, Google launched its own AI project called Google ChatGPT App Bard. This move shows that Google sees the value in chat-based searches and wants to keep up. If you’re unsure of what you see and Gemini can’t figure out the kind of incident you’re reporting, it’ll ask you follow-up questions to get clarification before submitting the incident report on your behalf. Unfortunately, I didn’t trigger many answers with this feature, which is still being improved on.

Google has been experimenting with which keywords trigger AI answers. Although they reached a high of 90% of keywords in November 2023, they’ve since dialled it back. Talking about the same, Chris Phillips, VP and general manager of Geo at Google said that Gemini will not be generating the answers itself. Google Earth is a program that renders a 3D image of the Earth using satellite imagery.

This data set is managed and fact-checked by Google’s internal team, so there’s no need to worry about accuracy. Other than this, weather reports and more detailed views of over 150 cities will also be added.

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This means that your search experience is increasingly relevant, considering factors like past searches, location, and trending topics. As users adapt to this conversational search style, they are asking complex, natural-language questions, leading to even more tailored answers. The search function was created by OpenAI advancements and integrated into the AI chatbot procedure, ChatGPT. The specifics and suggestions serve as an experience that is very much in contrast with the general search routine. It has always been intended to provide real answers to discussions instead of links and brief excerpts.

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Here too, users will be able to ask more detailed, contextual questions. The update will also come with a feature called “Add Stops” that will let you add stops on the way to your main destination – perfect for exploring new places on your next holiday. Research is one of the most critical and time-consuming challenges facing writers and academics. As a journalist engaging with complex and technical subjects, I find that staying properly informed can be a job in itself.

It is a definite estimate that more than 90% of people begin with some kind of search query, and this behavior just increases with AI-powered options for search. Generative AI lets Google better understand and respond to complex, conversational search queries, providing a more accurate and intuitive search experience. The technology can now better interpret the natural language inputs that may provide a more personalized response than mere links on the web. This way, users receive more information about answers, summaries, and insights on even the most niche queries. Now the tech giant is experimenting with a new AI-powered tool called Illuminate, which enables users to convert lengthy and dense research papers and books into concise AI-generated audio conversations. Google describes the tool as an “experimental technology that uses AI to adapt content to your learning preferences.”

You might say something like, “Looks like there are cars jammed up ahead.” Thanks to Gemini, Waze will understand that you’re reporting traffic congestion ahead, and it will submit the report. AIO now incorporates features like Google Lens, allowing users to perform visual searches alongside text. This multimodal approach enhances search functionality and caters to diverse user preferences. Illuminate uses AI to transform published papers and works into audio discussions with “two AI-generated voices in conversation” discussing the key points and takeaways of the paper. According to Google, “Illuminate is currently optimized for published computer science academic papers.” NotebookLM’s AI-generated content relies exclusively on your uploaded references, so it’s as grounded as it gets.

I also wish the voices weren’t always so cheerful and excited all the time. In fact, I would like to see more customization options that influence the final result in general. But even as-is, I think NotebookLM is one of the rare Google products to show serious potential in recent memory and I highly recommend trying it out for yourself. Listening to a podcast is not the fastest way to absorb information, but most of us can’t stomach reading through pages of boring documentation or poorly-organized notes either.

To test the technology, I signed in with my Google account and uploaded PDF links of technology-oriented papers I’ve been reading for work. On the Illuminate website, I went to the Generate tab, where I could either search for a topic on arxiv.org or directly paste the URL of a PDF from arxiv.org. For my first audio conversation, I uploaded a PDF link for a paper called Power to the People? Google’s mission is to make information universally accessible, and it has employed generative AI for this purpose. One example of such a tool is the AI-powered feature, Live Caption, which works across all Google products and can generate real-time captions for audio and video content.

This is by far one of the most exciting and helpful features for consumers by combining multiple queries into one. Instead of searching for “best coffee shops” and then “top-rated croissants,” you can simply ask, “What are the best coffee shops with ChatGPT top-rated pastries nearby? ” This shift in search behaviour is significant; recent trends show a 1.5x increase in longer queries among US users. Early indications suggest ads will appear in relevant queries and be clearly marked as sponsored.

Another important application is instant translation in several languages using AI-based translation tools. In that regard, Google Translate supports more than 100 languages but makes the translation contextual and natural. In the future, people may use different tools for different tasks. OpenAI Search Feature might be helpful for hard questions or creative ideas, while Google remains the choice for quick, simple searches. It can make communication more natural and make the users feel as if they are conversing with someone instead of typing searching queries.

Harder to find organic content and niche content

Initially, only one source appears, but once you expand the AI answers, you’ll find around 6 to 10 authoritative sources cited. Google’s new AI-powered search, now known as AI Overviews (AIO), uses generative AI to provide rich, conversational answers right in your search results. Instead of just showing links to websites, AIO gathers information from multiple sources to deliver detailed, contextual responses. An Audio Overview turns all of your notes and sources into a podcast, complete with two human-sounding hosts who go back and forth over the contents of your notebook. I’m not talking about a simple text-to-speech narration — an Audio Overview effectively emulates dynamic, human-like conversation.

We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written by real authors. Tech Report is one of the oldest hardware, news, and tech review sites on the internet. We write helpful technology guides, unbiased product reviews, and report on the latest tech and crypto news. We maintain editorial independence and consider content quality and factual accuracy to be non-negotiable. The audio conversation succinctly vocalized the major themes and takeaways contained in the paper. I was also surprised by how realistic the conversation sounded — as if I was tuning into my favorite tech podcast.

Yes, it integrates Gemini (because what doesn’t these days?), but it’s done in a genuinely useful and tasteful way. Dubbed NotebookLM, it feels like Google’s long-overdue answer to the likes of OneNote and Notion. But dig a little deeper and you’ll find that this relatively unknown Google app has one killer feature that deserves your attention. As exciting as Conversational Reporting sounds, it won’t be available immediately to all Waze users.

Moments like these make you feel like you’re listening to a natural human conversation instead of a synthetic AI creation. Another strength of the OpenAI Search Feature over other AI search engines is that it offers decisions based on exploring topics more deeply. This would suit users who are searching for something beyond regular information, and this could form the basis of OpenAI’s market share. You can foun additiona information about ai customer service and artificial intelligence and NLP. That being said, Google still leads this category for even more refined search queries or searching for something in a particular area, primarily because of its wide web crawling and indexing systems. Once enabled, you’ll just tell Waze what you see ahead, and Gemini AI will understand the type of road incident you’re reporting.

How to use Illuminate

OpenAI’s approach may serve a purpose for those people who want a clear and concise answer that does not require hours of reading through numerous pages. After uploading the link, I pressed Generate and waited a few minutes (it may take longer depending on the length of the paper and current traffic) for the 17-page paper to turn into an audio conversation. When generation was complete, I pressed the Play button to listen to the newly generated audio conversation and saved it to my library. Note that “audio conversations are deleted after 30 days unless you save them to your personal library.”

This works a lot better than a chat interface where you’d need to endlessly scroll and hunt down relevant responses. That said, NotebookLM also offers a chat interface with inline citations that link to not just individual source documents but also the exact page where it found the information in question. Google infused the generative AI in several applications of Google Workspace into Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides to improve productivity. Examples include the “Help Me Write” tool in Google Docs, which depends on generative AI to provide users with a draft e-mail, report, or any other document that entails text.

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According to recent surveys, by 2023, 66.9% of users employed voice or conversational AI tools in some or other form, indicating a shift towards conversational interfaces. Illuminate also generates audio discussions, too, but it’s tailored to more technical content and limited formats. There’s little AI involved so far, which is a good thing — I would not want an AI to do all of the research for me and potentially poison my notes with hallucinations. Google has been working on a very important generative AI project called Bard, which competes with ChatGPT. This means, for instance, that users might ask a question and get an answer as full-bodied as possible.

Currently, voice customization is automatically set to “general audience, medium, and semi-professional.” In this particular instance, the podcast starts a bit abruptly but it quickly gains momentum. I specifically prompted the AI to talk about user-facing Android 15 features before moving to less impactful ones. The hosts followed this instruction perfectly, listing some of the headlining features and how they work. But notice how throughout the podcast, the AI voices don’t just wait for their turn but also encourage, agreee, or even disagree with the other host. The clip is filled with instances of “mm-hmm,” “oh, yes,” deep breaths, and even awkward laughter.

Google’s services have already implemented the technology to improve digital assistants and chat experiences while continuing to evolve according to users’ feedback. According to Google’s latest report, adaptation of Bard has been happening fast, with thousands interacting daily. Users receive comprehensive answers in one place, making the search experience much more streamlined.

No ads currently in AI Overviews

Recently, Google launched its AI-powered search capabilities in Australia, and I had the chance to get early access. These features are expected to be available for both Android and iOS users this week. After this, the company has also promised to work on adding more descriptive route information for some metropolitan cities. No, and the above clip proves it — for example, the hosts will sometimes reference a particular talking point more than once during the same podcast.

With everything consolidated, though, NotebookLM’s namesake finally starts to make sense. Under the hood, the app relies on Google’s largest language model, Gemini 1.5 Pro, which can hold a context of two million tokens. This allows the app to analyze hundreds of pages’ worth of text to create new content like AI-generated briefing docs, timelines, and study guides. You don’t need to pay $20 per month for Gemini Advanced to use NotebookLM.

Google is focusing on creating generative AI that changes and enhances the face of commonly used tools to be readily available, productive, and creative. Google emphasizes innovative, user-centric design across such popular products. We guide our loyal readers to some of the best products, latest trends, and most engaging stories with non-stop coverage, available across all major news platforms. Google also announced a new School Zones feature for Waze that will roll out to Android and iPhone later this year.

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When you finally reach your destination, the tool will also direct you to the nearest parking spot and then switch to pedestrian mode once you get out of the car and are ready to head to the spot. This feature comes with augmented reality in case you need more help finding your way. Google Maps has already been using AI to enhance user experience. Think of the Lens feature that lets you point at a street with your camera to get more information on nearby restaurants or stores. Even though I’m not a college student or marketing professional who needs to digest reams upon reams of notes, I see immense value in NotebookLM on a nearly daily basis. Take the recent Android 15 update, for example, which contained dozens of changes.

Google stands at the cutting edge of global AI research and development, leading the way in innovation. From powerful search enhancements to creative tools, it has infused generative AI seamlessly into every corner of its products. Google’s technology is based on algorithmically generated data or content to resemble its input, or the data set it used in training, unlocking the new wave of the most innovative usage of its application. It is at the heart of improving how productively people utilize their experience on digital platforms, using Google’s creative approach through generating AI. The OpenAI Search Feature guarantees real-time accuracy, using techniques that get the right information at the right time. Another study conducted in the past reveals that 43% of the users have been overwhelmed by conventional search results and human and less value-added information.

Illuminate can be used as a research assistant tool if you have trouble grasping key points in a paper and need an extra boost from AI to hone in on what you might have missed after doing the reading. I can also listen to the podcast while doing a chore, driving, or walking outdoors. For this reason, NotebookLM might be one of Google’s most useful AI creations to date, surpassing even Gemini Live for me.

This has led to the creation of conversational AI, where the user can ask questions, seek clarification, and discuss the issue. This is a welcome change from Google in its more conservative presentational style of listing ranked web pages that many users previously noted were cluttered with ads or optimized for search. You can access your library by tapping My Library, which contains two sections — Personal and Public (publicly available generated audio conversations). You can also view the transcript of the conversations and share your audio generations with other people by tapping the “Share this content” icon at the bottom. Here is a link to my audio generation of the above-mentioned paper.

Google has taken a cautious approach to AI to protect its search ad business. Google’s reputation for launching overlapping apps is well-earned — just look at the confusion between Hangouts, Meet, and Chat. But after years of throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks, the search giant might finally be onto something with its latest foray in the note-taking genre.

We aim to publish comments quickly in the interest of promoting robust conversation, but we’re a small team and we deploy filters to protect against legal risk. Occasionally your comment may be held up google conversational ai while it is being reviewed, but we’re working as fast as we can to keep the conversation rolling. As technology races ahead, the integration of AI into our everyday tools has become a game-changer.