Mediaboss Marketing

JANET PEISCHEL

If youre a Google Assistant (GA) user, youve likely noticed some changes with the virtual assistant software application.

Theyve been sunsetting underused functions and concentrating on improving those that will enhance the user experience. And of course, those improvements are being driven by artificial intelligence (AI).

Theres another important component of this equation these changes wouldnt have been possible without the dramatic growth of voice technology.

No one could have predicted how popular this communication channel would become, driven in large part by podcasts.

When you key a query into GA, the responses could be the same boring text that were used to. But theyre likely to be a lot more fun, to include videos, images and/or music.

The new GA might surprise you and serve up website snippets to answer your queries. The responses are clearly more comprehensive than those we receive from a traditional Google search query.

If youre confused about Google Search versus Google Assistant, thats because it looks like the two are becoming one and the same. Its a metamorphosis. GA could be Google Search as we know it. This is where search is going and it raises our expectations.

In 2000, Google co-founder Larry Page told us that they were working on a system where you could ask any question and get the perfect answer. That perfect answer had to come from a new generation of search that was driven by AI, with its vast dataset or library system as Page likes to think of it.

Think about a query for a flourless chocolate cake recipe that you used to love and would like to try making yourself. Not only will GA provide the recipe, but it will serve up photos of this dessert with testimonials and instructions for making it. It may include some alternate recipes that dont require as much work.

Synch with smartphones, smart speakers, etc., and you can create shortcuts. For the weather, receive a spoken response while also viewing a visual representation of a whole day of torrential downpour.

How to communicate with GA? It answers to Hey Google, Okay Google, and Hello Google or Hi Google. How can you use GA? Set your alarm for 6 a.m., add to your grocery list and remind yourself to drink water throughout the day.

GA is pretty amazing. Im an iPhone user, so this may be a better overall user experience for those in a Chrome/PC/Android environment.

Were making a few changes to focus on quality and reliability, making it easier to use Assistant across devices.

With GA, the promise is that responses will be better organized, more accessible. We will understand a topic faster, uncover new viewpoints and insights, and get things done more easily.

Visitors walked through Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Napa to look at the art installation House of Cards on the opening night of the Lighted Art Festival on Saturday.

The old Napa bus depot on Pearl Street was transformed into the artwork 3 Sisters by artist Matley Hurd for this year's Lighted Art Festival, which opened Saturday.

First Presbyterian Church on Third Street served as the backdrop to Biotechture, one of the installations at this year's Napa Lighted Arts Festival.

Visitors braved the Saturday night rain to enjoy a Lion Dance performance at the First Street Napa retail arcade on the opening night of the Lighted Art Festival.

Dwight Murray Plaza hosted Entwined Napa by artist Charles Gadeken as the Napa Lighted Art Festival opened Saturday.

A vintage Ford pickup truck parked on the Brown Street Plaza is the basis of Aquarium Car by artist Stephane Massonn, one of the attractions of the 2024 Napa Lighted Art Festival.

A glowing winged sculpture entitled Touch the Sky by artist Martin Taylor was on display at the Napa River Inn on the first night of the Lighted Art Festival Saturday.

Spectators, braving the elements, took in a Lion Dance performance Saturday during the Napa Lighted Art Festival's opening night.

The side of the Native Sons of the Golden West building on Coombs Street was the backdrop of Sound the Deep Waters by artists Josh Miller and Angela Fraiegh as the Napa Lighted Arts Festival opened Saturday.

The Lighted Art Festival in downtown Napa, which opened Saturday, will present projected light works through Jan. 28 and static artworks through Feb. 18.

The first night of the Lighted Art Festival in downtown Napa on Saturday, January 20.

The first night of the Lighted Art Festival in downtown Napa on Saturday, January 20.

The first night of the Lighted Art Festival in downtown Napa on Saturday, January 20.

The first night of the Lighted Art Festival in downtown Napa on Saturday, January 20.

The first night of the Lighted Art Festival in downtown Napa on Saturday, January 20.

The first night of the Lighted Art Festival in downtown Napa on Saturday, January 20.

The first night of the Lighted Art Festival in downtown Napa on Saturday, January 20.

The first night of the Lighted Art Festival in downtown Napa on Saturday, January 20.

The first night of the Lighted Art Festival in downtown Napa on Saturday, Jan. 20.

Napas Lighted Art Festival kicked off on Saturday night as visitors enjoyed various art installations spread throughout downtown.

Janet Peischel is a writer and digital media specialist, owner of Top of Mind Marketing. Reach her at 510-292-1843, jpeischel@top-mindmarketing.com

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Google Assistant's evolution: Is this the new search? - Napa Valley Register

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