Google reportedly working on assistant to rival Apple's Siri

PanARMENIAN.Net - Google is reportedly working on a new voice-controlled assistant to rival Apple's Siri system, but be more 'goal-orientated'.

As Digital Spy reports, citing a post on TechCrunch, the new system, dubbed Google Assistant, has been in development at the US search giant for "ages". The firm is also thought to have hired Mike Cohen, the co-founder of Nuance Communications, to work on the project.

This year, Apple is widely expected to expand its Siri voice-controlled assistant beyond the iPhone 4S, including potential integration with the new iPad model to be announced on Wednesday, but also in a rumoured connected TV product later in the year.

However, TechCrunch claims that Google Assistant will "go beyond" Siri in various ways, particularly in that the search company will control all layers of the service. Apple's Siri currently refers to third-party information sources for certain user requests.

Sources claim that the Google Assistant project, which is being handled by the Android team, is currently focusing on distilling the world's knowledge into 'a format a computer can understand'.

The system would then create a personalisation layer using services such as social network Google+, before building a mobile-centric, voice-activated "do engine" that focuses less on search results and more on 'accomplishing real-life goals'.

It is thought that Google is also intending to open up the Assistant to third-party developers for them to create extra services, such as apps or supporting websites.

According to sources, Google is preparing to unveil the Assistant product in the fourth quarter of 2012, although the plans remain subject to change.

It is possible, however, that the release will come at the same time as the next version of Google Android for tablets and mobiles, thought to be codenamed Jellybean, the report says.