Virtual assistant Google Duplex raises AI concerns

Google has announced plans to invest more in AI research, as they demonstrated Duplex, its virtual assistant that can have a conversation with a person over the phone and make appointments. Wired editor-in-chief and CBS News contributor Nicholas Thompson joins "CBS This Morning" to discuss the technology and address the concerns surrounding AI.

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[swishpronoob]

When an AI conversates better than you do.

[Caleb_Olson]

I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords.

[DusDB]

Will be so funny (or creepy) when two bots talk to each other: one calling to make the appointment and the other one from the AI-based appointment processig application :-/ - and we the humans just "observing from the distance"

[DouglasPelo]

That "Mm-hmm" is the dead ringer. Hopefully Google will add in more pauses and transitions in the future.

[Punisher]

"ill be home at Avocado O Clock" damn Auto correct!

[eyenewit]

No more waiting on hold listening to elevator music especially when calling the DMV!

[chevster]

The only hiccup is when she says 12 pm other than that....just woooow

[blkmusic__]

That’s the thing. If Google Assistant tells the caller that it’s a robot, the caller would sometimes just hang up. Think about it from a real life perspective

[SarahRamsingh]

It shouldnt have to identify itself unless it's working for a telemarketing company.

[wisdomjamin]

I think Google assistant should disclose its identity ONLY when asked by whomever its conversing with

[skr]

"Hey i am john's google assistant & would like to make an appointment" THAT SHOULD BE THE NORM..

[Flavius_Tanigoi]

love this feature use it all of the time

[aminbe]

Google announced that would let the other person know they are talking to a digital assistant

[fetB]

"good thing that potentially leads to massive manipulation" well said

[redghost]

Could you have an assistant answer the call too? Do we even need to do anything?

[ChoppedBananas]

It was a demo for Christ's sake. It was two phone calls. Once the technology becomes mainstream then yes, it would be ethical to let people know it's a digital assistant. But to say Google is perpetuating an unethical standard by these two demos is just crazy talk.

[JulioLagara]

So much ignorance from the media. Since when has anyone talked to a robot over the phone? The moment it twiukd of told the lady from the salon that it was a bot, she would of hanged up. Thinktit was a spam call.

Besides, Google Assistant is simply trying to book an appointment or schedule a reservation. This is sheer brilliance from Google. Kudos on them for continuing to invest in technological advancements. As other big cookies simply pocket their revenues.

[devera]

Some people don't like talking to a robot and will just hang up. Very cool tech though.

[Faisals_Adventures]

Yes, the whole call should have been started with the voice disclaimer: "I am this "XXX's digital assistant". We are not ready as a society to freely talk to robots without our knowledge. The call centers are bad enough, now we are going to be called by a robot?! Na uh.

[nyx]

Pay no attention to A/I research and its potential effects on our society. Let's talk about Trump, Trump, Russia, Russia some more.