Google says it will shut down its Duplex web tool, a service that taps into Google Assistant to make it easier to buy tickets and other purchases. In an update on the support page, Google explains that Duplex on the web and all associated automation features will end support during this month.
“As we continue to improve the Duplex experience, we’re responding to the feedback we’ve heard from users and developers about how to make it even better,” a Google spokesperson shared with TechCrunch. “By the end of this year, we’ll turn down Duplex on the Web and fully focus on making AI advancements to the Duplex voice technology that helps people most every day.”
It is important to note this is Duplex on the Web, so it seems like Google will be willing to maintain the service on other platforms.
Duplex on the Web made its debut in 2019 as a web version of the Duplex phone app that allows customers to make reservations. While the tool initially only allows users to auto filling customer info on a movie theater’s website, it soon because more powerful.
Closing
Duplex for Web can now leverage Google Assistant to automatically check in for flights, change passwords, get discounts, and checkout for e-commerce. While Google does not give a reason for closing the service, TechCrunch speculates the overheads of training AI to scrape the web is simply not worth it.
I suspect it is something more classic than that; not enough people were using Duplex.
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