Google is putting a different twist on the concept of “automated reply” with a new tool that aims to write artificially intelligent responses to your email.
The technology is part of an update to Google’s Inbox app for managing and organizing email. The feature announced Tuesday is the latest example of Google’s effort to teach machines how to take over some of the tasks typically handled by humans.
The most conspicuous example so far has been Google’s 6-year-old project developing cars that can drive without a human steering the wheel. Google also has been using an artificial intelligence program called “RankBrain” to help determine the pecking order in its influential Internet search results.
In this instance, Google says it has created a program that identifies which incoming emails merit quick responses and then figures out the appropriate wording. Up to three choices will be offered as a reply before it’s sent. The responses that people select are supposed to help Google’s computers learn which ones work best.
‘Smart Reply suggests up to three responses based on the emails you get,’ Google said.
‘For those emails that only need a quick response, it can take care of the thinking and save precious time spent typing.
‘And for those emails that require a bit more thought, it gives you a jump start so you can respond right away.’
The new feature is the latest example of Google’s effort to teach machines how to take over some of the tasks typically handled by humans.
Dubbed Smart Reply, the system learns to generate appropriate replies by analyzing of email conversations from across Google’s Gmail service.
The responses of uses are fed into a neural network that works in a similar way to the human brain in order to ‘learn’ a particular task.
The network will tailor both the tone and content of the responses to the email you’re reading,’ says Google product management director Alex Gawley.
Google expects its new “smart reply” option to be particularly popular when people are checking emails on smartphones equipped with smaller, touch-screen keyboards.
The new feature is available to all consumers who use the free version of Inbox, as well as the more than 2 million businesses who pay for Google’s suite of applications designed for work.
Google unveiled Inbox a year ago as a more sophisticated alternative to its popular Gmail service. The Mountain View, California, company hasn’t said how many people have installed Inbox. Gmail has more than 400 million worldwide users, according to the research firm comScore.
Google is part of a recently formed parent company, Alphabet Inc.
Do send us your comment and you can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ , on LinkedIn or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from, Technology world.
