Google launches Allo 'smart' messaging app with Google Assistant AI
As promised, Google late Tuesday launched Allo, a so-called "smart" messaging app that sets itself apart from the crowd by integrating artificial intelligence assistant akin to Apple's Siri.
First announced in May at Google I/O, Allo includes the usual selection of fun text communication features made popular with WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and, most recently, Apple's iMessage. For example, users can post stickers and text animations to a message string, or markup photos without leaving the app.
Allo also boasts a Smart Reply option that uses machine learning to suggest quick replies based on a conversation's chat history. The feature is similar to Apple's QuickType, but goes deeper by offering suggested replies for photos and other graphical content. Google also says Smart Reply selections improve over time, with responses molded after a user's personal style.
The main draw, as explained by Google in a blog post, is Allo's integration with an artificial intelligence called Google Assistant. Technically a "preview edition," Assistant lets users interact with an advanced chat bot capable of returning answers to simple queries directly in the Allo app.
For example, Assistant can pull local movie times, information about restaurants, weather data, traffic, sports scores and more into a chat window. The feature should prove convenient in group chats, as users no longer have to leave their messaging app to gather and share information.
Users can also interact with Assistant one-on-one in what can be described as a text-only version of Siri.
Unlike Siri and the new Messages app in iOS 10, Allo currently lacks hooks into third-party apps. While Assistant is able to surface information about a particular restaurant, users are unable to book a table in-app. Advanced interactions are handled through links and cards that open in another app or web browser.
Allo also sports end-to-end encryption with Incognito mode -- a term borrowed from Chrome -- and supports cross-platform conversations between iOS and Android devices.
Allo is available as a free download through the iOS App Store.
First announced in May at Google I/O, Allo includes the usual selection of fun text communication features made popular with WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and, most recently, Apple's iMessage. For example, users can post stickers and text animations to a message string, or markup photos without leaving the app.
Allo also boasts a Smart Reply option that uses machine learning to suggest quick replies based on a conversation's chat history. The feature is similar to Apple's QuickType, but goes deeper by offering suggested replies for photos and other graphical content. Google also says Smart Reply selections improve over time, with responses molded after a user's personal style.
The main draw, as explained by Google in a blog post, is Allo's integration with an artificial intelligence called Google Assistant. Technically a "preview edition," Assistant lets users interact with an advanced chat bot capable of returning answers to simple queries directly in the Allo app.
For example, Assistant can pull local movie times, information about restaurants, weather data, traffic, sports scores and more into a chat window. The feature should prove convenient in group chats, as users no longer have to leave their messaging app to gather and share information.
Users can also interact with Assistant one-on-one in what can be described as a text-only version of Siri.
Unlike Siri and the new Messages app in iOS 10, Allo currently lacks hooks into third-party apps. While Assistant is able to surface information about a particular restaurant, users are unable to book a table in-app. Advanced interactions are handled through links and cards that open in another app or web browser.
Allo also sports end-to-end encryption with Incognito mode -- a term borrowed from Chrome -- and supports cross-platform conversations between iOS and Android devices.
Allo is available as a free download through the iOS App Store.
Comments
The singularity was always a question of when but now we know how.
talk, hangouts, allo, g+, Google Phone,...
...is there ANY concept behind this nonsense?
And the most interesting concept of all, Wave, they dropped.
Have one integrated text/voice communications project with tie-ins to phone and SMS, then you can add optional smart bots, and it might become an interesting alternative.
"It doesn't use your Google account though—you "sign in" with a phone number and it doesn't know who you are or who any of your friends are"
Ya' know...
If you can pay bills seamlessly, privately, securely and anonymously with ApplePay/TouchID/Secure Enclave -- why couldn't a similar process be used for all your interactions with apps, mail, messaging, surfing, web site logins, etc. (all interactions with the web or cloud).
I've read that ApplePay usage is going to be really goosed by it's availability on web browsers -- which are used for the majority of online purchases (comparative shopping as opposed to incidental buying).
If every web/cloud/app interaction used the ApplePay process -- that would be something!
Fu** these guys are creepy!
I fail to see how Allo is going to do much in taking marketshare from WhatsApp.
Google has a far bigger problem. Alexa is going to displace search if Google isn't careful. Even Apple is going to have seriously upgrade the capabilities of Siri if they plan to compete. Apple's revenue doesn't depend on Siri, however. Google search is Alphabet's source of profits and capital.
Google remains poorly focused and it's going to haunt them eventually. Allo isn't going to do much more than Google+ did. If they have smart people, they would know better.