Google Assistant wants to talk to you like a friend—and call in your dinner reservation

Google Assistant may have debuted as a bonus feature in the company’s ho-hum Allo messaging app, but it’s been on a roll ever since. The AI helper is now embedded in more than 500 million devices worldwide, Google revealed Tuesday during its annual I/O developer conference keynote. The company is rolling out new features and products to make Assistant more helpful no matter what sort of device you use—and to keep pace with Amazon Echo’s fast and furious improvements.And get this: In the future, Google Assistant will even call local businesses to book appointments for you.It’s true. Google’s machine learning chops have advanced far enough that you’ll be able to ask Assistant to schedule an appointment for you at a business that can’t be easily booked online, and Google’s big brains in the sky will actually ring local shops to set up a reservation.To read this article in full, please click here Continue reading at 'PC World'

[ PC World | 2018-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #google assistant #bonus feature #amazon echo #book appointments

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Google Assistant wants to talk to you like a friend—and call in your dinner reservation'


ALCS calls on authors to complete income survey

The Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) is repeating its survey measuring authors’ incomes. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Kobo’s Michael Tamblyn Talks Walmart and E-books

International ebook retailer Rakuten Kobo has a long history of partnering with retailers to deliver ebooks, but Kobo its new partnership with Walmart is on a whole different level. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #long history #deliver ebooks


Paddington director 'in talks' for new Wonka film

Warner Bros. is in talks with Paul King, the director of the two "Paddington" films, to take on a new adaptation of “Willy Wonka”, according to Variety magazine. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #warner bros


Giant advertiser Unilever threatens to pull its ads from Facebook and Google over 'toxic content'

One of the world's largest advertisers is threatening to pull its ads from social sites such as Facebook and YouTube if the tech companies don't do more to minimize divisive content on their platforms. Unilever's chief marketing officer, Keith Weed, will call on Silicon Valley on Monday to better... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #largest advertisers #social sites #silicon valley


When They Got the Call: PW Speaks with the 2018 Newbery, Caldecott, and Printz Winners

PW spoke with the three big winners of the ALA's 2018 Youth Media Awards, about what they were doing when the committee called with the good news. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pw speaks #printz winners #pw spoke #big winners #committee called


Google Debuts AMP Stories for Mobile Readers

AMP Stories. Credit: GoogleGoogle has launched AMP Stories, a feature that lets publishers create content similiar to Instagram Stories, but for mobile websites.AMP, short for Accelerated Mobile Page, loads content extremely fast. The open-source project was led by Google roughly two years ago,... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2018-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mobile websites #mobile readers #instagram stories #google makes #conde nast


January Religion Bestsellers: 'Jesus (Still) Calling'; No One Leaves 'The Shack'

Popular pastors' inspirational advice, devotionals, and novels packed with romance, suspense -- or both -- lead January's bestseller lists. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #inspirational advice #bestseller lists


Publishing Perspectives’ Spring Magazine: Call for Stories on Diversity

With challenges to so many voices becoming shrill in so many markets, Publishing Perspectives' Spring Global Overview Edition will spotlight the book industry's champions of diversity and efforts to promote it. The post Publishing Perspectives’ Spring Magazine: Call for Stories on Diversity... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-02-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #diversity appeared #book industry


Google and Facebook make up less than 5 percent of publishers’ digital revenue

Revenue from third-party platforms represented 16 percent of publishers' total digital revenue in the first half of 2017 -- nearly unchanged from a year earlier. The post Google and Facebook make up less than 5 percent of publishers’ digital revenue appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-02-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital revenue #post google #year earlier


The Science of Taste: PW Talks with James Briscione

We caught up with Briscione, author of the forthcoming book 'The Flavor Matrix' (HMH), to find out how chemistry is the key to why certain ingredient combos work—from pizza, to caramel and fish sauce. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Publishers call on Man Booker prize to drop American authors

A letter from 30 industry figures is urging the award to reverse 2014’s inclusion of US authors, in order to avoid a ‘homogenised literary future’Tensions over the decision to allow US authors to enter the Man Booker prize have flared up yet again, with 30 publishers signing a letter urging the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #prize organisers #american authors #uk don #publishers call #writer writing


Google Play launches audiobook store

Google Play has launched a dedicated audiobook store to take advantage of the recent growth in downloads. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #google play #recent growth


WI13: Junot Diaz Urges Booksellers to Walk the Talk on Diversity

During his Winter Institute 13 keynote address, author Junot Diaz delivered a blistering political statement urging the publishing industry to "stop talking about diversity and start decolonizing our shelves." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-01-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing industry #stop talking


Google Play Store Now Selling Audiobooks and Boosting Content on Voice-Activated Devices

While hardly a shock that Google Play has started selling audiobooks, it's a moment to look at aspects of the format's sales-building prominence: the other way of 'reading.' The post Google Play Store Now Selling Audiobooks and Boosting Content on Voice-Activated Devices appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-01-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #selling audiobooks #google play


WI13: Talking in Memphis With the Independent Publishers Caucus

The Independent Publishers Caucus, a new advocacy organization, met during WI13 in Memphis on Monday. Topics of discussion included funding the group and developing stronger ties between indie presses and indie booksellers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #advocacy organization #indie presses #indie booksellers


Rupert Murdoch to Facebook, Google: Pay for news

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch — the executive chairman of News Corporation, and the big boss at Fox News, the New York Post and the Wall Street Journal — has a message to Silicon Valley's social media giants: Pay up. Murdoch's specific targets Monday were Facebook and Alphabet's Google, two... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal

[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2018-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #rupert murdoch #news corporation #fox news #executive chairman #york post #silicon valley #significantly changed #selling advertising


Google’s emphasis on mobile page speed will hit CNN, WSJ and other top sites

With Google about to start ranking mobile sites by speed, we looked at which top publishers are ready and which could use improvement. The post Google’s emphasis on mobile page speed will hit CNN, WSJ and other top sites appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-01-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post google #top publishers


Google Play banner hints at dedicated audiobook section

Google Play might be close to launching a section dedicated to selling audiobooks. 9to5Google has spotted a banner displayed in the Books section of the app market announcing its arrival. It was even promoting a 50 percent discount for your first aud... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2018-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #google play #selling audiobooks #books section


Library groups call for inquiry after Carillion collapse

Libraries body CILIP has called for a public inquiry to investigate whether the government knowingly issued contracts for the delivery of public services to a failing company following the collapse of Carillion. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #carillion collapse #public inquiry #public services


Friday Wake-Up Call: Facebook Deals a Blow to Publishers, and Marriott Gets Punished For a Gaffe

GaffeChinese authorities are punishing a foreign brand -- Marriott International -- by shutting down its China website and app for a week. What happened?Marriott's wording on a customer survey upset the powers that be. In a user survey, the hotel chain "listed Tibet, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2018-01-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hotel chain #hong kong