Ask ChatGPT why humans feel awkward using AI assistants in public. But don’t ask in public or people will stare at you, point, and laugh.
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Search the Web With a Phone Call Using This New Arc Search Feature
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I can immediately think of a scenario where this could be handy: fake a real-alike phone call to get out of awkward situations.
Next stop, let AI generate a conversation that pretending someone is calling you urgently so you can excuse and leave.
And then while the phone is to your ear, your phone rings from a real phone call and you look like a tool pretending to be on the phone. I see right through their scheme.
I like the concept, I think it could be useful. Speaking is faster than typing, especially iOS typing, and it‘s good for eyes-free information look up (hands-free too if wearing an earpiece) if you want to keep your head up and aware of your surroundings, and you don’t want people to hear or make out your “conversation“—only you would hear the voice assistant and you can probably talk low enough into the mic that others won’t be able to hear or at least make out your query.
But it hinges on two things: 1) it needs an easy eyes-free shortcut button/voice command/something to activate immediately, and 2) data privacy, for me anyway. I probably wouldn’t trust any old third party company so I’d only use it if it was an Apple feature. Actually, maybe there already is some Siri setting where you can listen to her through the phone earpiece. She would just need to an upgrade to be able to hold a conversation.
It’s not awkward but people may feel like it is. I really think that call “feature“ is like the worst joke in some time, but the idea behind it might not be so bad. Still doubt it’ll gain traction.
What... why... Who... ?
If you're the type of person who asks Siri all the time for info but just want it to be more private, then put earphones in. Airpods are quite open so you can continue to listen to the world around you.
Who is this for honestly ? If you want private searching, surely typing the question directly into your screen is the best option - plus you often get a list of options as results as opposed to just one audio response which may or may not be what you're looking for. If this is going to be for the most basic of stuff like "Whats the weather like tomorrow?" or "How many pounds in a kilo?" then fair enough, but are you going to ever ask "Error 4556 The server refused the connection due to lack of headers" and expect a response that is useful to you - maybe in 5 years.
If you're the type of person who asks Siri all the time for info but just want it to be more private, then put earphones in. Airpods are quite open so you can continue to listen to the world around you.
Who is this for honestly ? If you want private searching, surely typing the question directly into your screen is the best option - plus you often get a list of options as results as opposed to just one audio response which may or may not be what you're looking for. If this is going to be for the most basic of stuff like "Whats the weather like tomorrow?" or "How many pounds in a kilo?" then fair enough, but are you going to ever ask "Error 4556 The server refused the connection due to lack of headers" and expect a response that is useful to you - maybe in 5 years.
Yep. For an allegedly tech website, so many Macrumors members are clueless when it comes to actual technology.
But it's 2024, not 1982.
On-device voice search - or Google or anything - does not require a PHONE CALL.
Do you call 1-900-WEATHER in 2024? Or say, "alexa what's the weather"
Huh? I take it you only read the title of the article. It’s not actually a phone call—there’s no dialing or calling involved. It’s basically the same as using Alexa, only you have the option to hold the phone up to your ear so only you can hear, so it looks like a phone call.
Hey Siri, how is the weather today?
Siri: Call this number to find out. 😂
They called it a phone call, we're just making fun of it for an obvious reason. Most people probably use headphones anyway, so this feature seems completely unnecessary.