Samsung Acquires Viv, the AI Assistant From the Creators of Siri

[kdarling]

Maybe they'll call it IRIS

Siri backwards...

One of the several reasons they used "Siri" (besides its origin at SRI), is that a primary developer had created an app called IRIS as part of Siri's parent AI project, and he liked that it was that name backwards, just as you said.

http://www.ai.sri.com/software/IRIS

However, there's already been an Android voice assistant called Iris.

The interesting part here is Dag's rationalisation that they needed "ubiquity". You WERE at Apple!

Apple has a low market share in much of the world, and they only make a few products.

Apparently the Viv team is interested in the IoT (Internet of Things), which as many know, is the current buzzword for interconnecting multiple objects in our world.

Samsung makes and sells everything from phones to refrigerators, so they're the perfect company to team up with, if you want to be able to quickly create and control the integration of an intelligent assistant system for home or business.

Imagine an entire phone, computer and appliance line that works together.

 

[lowendlinux]

Honest question: would they be allowed to ship this with their Android phones in place of Google Assistant?

I know Amazon have had problems replacing Google's parts of Android - it's a take it all or leave it all kind of thing.

AFAIK OEM's can't choose which GMS apps to take, if you want one you have to take them all hence all the duplicate apps.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

Really??

Nearly every new OS release is bricking devices by the boatload.

Unfounded rhetoric. Rule of thumb that has been around since system 4 is for every major iOS upgrade you iTunes download and then update. This is still true even in a world of over-the-air with wifi. Point releases over-the-air is safe as your network noise and instabilities are less frequent.

For some reason the average consumer thinks the mesh networking of your Wifi is one Apple, when it's on your network provider.
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One of the several reasons they used "Siri" (besides its origin at SRI), is that a primary developer had created an app called IRIS as part of Siri's parent AI project, and he liked that it was that name backwards, just as you said.

http://www.ai.sri.com/software/IRIS

However, there's already been an Android voice assistant called Iris.



Apple has a low market share in much of the world, and they only make a few products.

Apparently the Viv team is interested in the IoT (Internet of Things), which as many know, is the current buzzword for interconnecting multiple objects in our world.

Samsung makes and sells everything from phones to refrigerators, so they're the perfect company to team up with, if you want to be able to quickly create and control the integration of an intelligent assistant system for home or business.

Imagine an entire phone, computer and appliance line that works together.

Yes. Just imagine a complete ecosystem on fire. Sorry, but when you want to make everything in your life that takes power placed on an AI closed loop network to automate your day, you truly are delusional and shouldn't be surprised when the products are overpriced junk that catches fire: I'm looking at you Samsung Washers, Dryers and Ranges.

 

[MacBergin]

"Uh oh" - Tim Cook

You dun goofed Apple!

Viv kills Siri!

You should read the full article before replying. Apple purchased VocalIQ in 2015 which does the same thing as Viv.

 

[kdarling]

Yes. Just imagine a complete ecosystem on fire. Sorry, but when you want to make everything in your life that takes power placed on an AI closed loop network to automate your day, you truly are delusional and shouldn't be surprised when the products are overpriced junk that catches fire: I'm looking at you Samsung Washers, Dryers and Ranges.

This gets my vote as lamest response of the month, if not for the year. Man, what's happened to you? You're usually better than this.

--

Re: AI in the home. People have been expecting (and many hoping for) it for decades; but it's still in in its infancy.

Also, I think it's half or more useless, without a robotic incarnation to fulfill some of the more common requests. I don't want to just say, "Hey [insert your favorite virtual male/female assistant name here], find me a good recipe for artichokes."

I want to be able to say, "Turn on the TV to my favorite channel, then cook some artichokes and bring them to me when they're done!"

If you think about it, many/most of the interactions and requests we come up with each day, actually would work better if there was a physical (not just virtual) assistant available.

 

[Uni Grad]

You should read the full article before replying. Apple purchased VocalIQ in 2015 which does the same thing as Viv.

I did actually. Who knows when VocalIQs AI capabilites will be folded into Siri? As of now, Viv does, truly in fact kill Siri. At their current offerings, Viv is far more better at handling assistant tasks than Siri.

 

[ErikGrim]

At their current offerings, Viv is far more better at handling assistant tasks than Siri.

Right now Viv is an app, by design it can do less than Siri which is built into the OS.

 

[rockyromero]

I want to be able to say, "Turn on the TV to my favorite channel, then cook some artichokes and bring them to me when they're done!"

I prefer, to say, "My SIRI, Turn on the TV to my favorite channel, then double toast waffles and bring them to me when they're done!"

But I get your point.

➰

 

[ds2000]

I dunno. What sort of advanced Siri commands do you have in mind?

Nothing serious,

"Hi Siri, what is the weather today in Leiden"
"Hi, here's the weather"
"and tomorrow?"
"sorry I don't understand"

"Hi Siri, when is the last train home"
"let me search"

Granted the last one requires the API opening up to more people but Siri has been around for years now and doesn't do much at all

 

[hagar]

Viv's advice to Note owners: "DROP AND ROLL!"
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Siri has frustrated me relentlessly—once to the point that I almost threw my phone out the car window. It has improved noticeably since the new iOS release.

One thing that is handicapping Siri is the device's microphone. This is especially apparent in a moving car with a window open or The radio playing. If I bother to silence the environment and hold the phone close, Siri is much more reliable, especially with my southern accent.

Yeah. That's one thing. But she understands me just fine most of the time. It's the interpretation and execution that's horrible. I ask driving directions to a nearby mall and while she does understand the name, she sends me to the other side of the wolrd. Similar with reminders and appointments. She keeps screwing up. Very weird.