Until recently, Google Duplex on the Web was a service that could perform some fairly mundane tasks on the web. Basically, it was a collection of Google Assistant-like features that helped users navigate websites, fill out forms, and find discounts.
For instance, it was able to help you make reservations at restaurants. In addition, it was able to help you purchase movie tickets online. It also aided you in checking into flights. You can also use it to automate tasks like changing passwords.
However, it is not surprising to learn that Google has decided to discontinue this feature. In a statement, a spokesperson explained that it will not be supporting Duplex on the web after December 2022. This is because the technology used to power the feature is no longer feasible. Similarly, the process of training and fine-tuning the AI models needed to do the same task is costing Google money. The company is planning to cut down on its investment in Assistant-branded services, and is moving on to improving the AI used for Duplex voice technology.
In a separate blog post, Google noted that it will be moving on to other projects that will be more profitable in the long run. In particular, the company is planning to cut down on the investment it makes in developing its Assistant for non-Google devices. The reason is simple: it is more profitable to invest in the hardware of the device rather than in the software. In fact, the search engine giant has been looking for ways to shave off some of its expenses and invest more money in its core products.
A few years ago, the company launched a service that would assist you with checking into a flight. This was part of an effort to speed up the airline check-in process, which can be time-consuming. Eventually, the feature expanded to give the Google Assistant the capability to locate discounts and help you with checkout for e-commerce retailers. Eventually, it was able to change your password in the event of an online data breach.
In the meantime, it was just an extension of the phone reservation AI technology that already existed. When the service was launched, it was only available on Android phones. The feature was marketed as a “live” version of the Google Assistant. It was limited to specific use cases and locations, though. It was only supported by a few sites. In addition, it was only available in Chrome on desktop, and required some form of training to use.
While the service did provide some valuable functions, it was not quite the “magic pill” that many companies have been marketing for the past few years. In fact, it only supported a small number of sites, and it looked like it was going to be an intensive and expensive process for Google to maintain. The company did, however, have some partners who were willing to let the service continue. According to the company, those partners have been notified of the discontinuation.