Latest news with #Assistant
Tom's Guide
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Gemini on Android can now identify songs — but there's a catch
Just days after launching 'Search Live,' Google continues to evolve Gemini into a solid AI Assistant on Android, with the latest update bringing a long-missing fan favorite: song identification. You can now ask Gemini, 'What song is this?' and the chatbot will trigger Google's Song Search interface, the same listening tool familiar to Assistant users. It can recognize music from your environment, a playlist or even if you hum the tune yourself. I'm curious to test just how accurate the humming needs to be. Song Search isn't fully native to Gemini yet. When you ask for song identification, it launches a full-screen listening interface from the Google app (not directly inside Gemini), The song identification update works in the Gemini app on Android, but when you type (or speak) "What song is this?" it kicks you into the Google app's Song Search interface, virtually handing off to the Google app, which feels a bit clunky compared to the way Pixel's Now Playing Assistant handles fairly well. It also doesn't stay inside Gemini Live's conversational experience, which also feels like a miss. And, once it finds a match, the result appears in Google Search, not as an inline Gemini response. For now, this feature works only on Android; there's no Gemini song identification on iOS yet. You'll also need to manually restart the full-screen Song Search interface if you want to identify multiple songs in a row. In terms of comparison, Google Assistant's built-in Now Playing feature is still more seamless. You can trigger it with a voice command or lock screen shortcut, and it shows results inline (often with album art) and even works offline. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. In contrast, Gemini's new Song Search relies on the Google app's listening interface. You need to type or say 'What song is this?' in Gemini, which then opens a full-screen search window and hands off the result to the Google app. It's accurate, pulling from the same song database as Assistant, but the experience is naturally less smooth, since it requires switching apps and doesn't stay inside Gemini itself. Another key difference: while Google Assistant's Now Playing is available on most Android devices and pre-installed on Pixel, Gemini's Song Search is Android-only for now, and it's not yet available on iOS. Yes, Gemini can now identify songs, but it's not yet as smooth as Google Assistant or Pixel's Now Playing feature. Still, if you're using Gemini daily, this brings back a key Assistant-era capability, which is a good sign that Google is listening to user feedback as Gemini evolves into a more complete voice assistant.
Techday NZ
11-06-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Ivo launches AI tools to transform contract analysis & insight
Ivo has announced the launch of two AI-native products designed to automate contract analysis and streamline the extraction of insights from legal agreements. Legal teams have traditionally depended on contract lifecycle management (CLM) tools to store and manage agreements. However, extracting meaningful data from these systems often involved the manual review of large volumes of documents, with significant time and resource investment required. The latest offering from Ivo consists of Repository and Assistant, both powered by the company's proprietary AI Repository Engine (AiRE). The tools are positioned to provide visibility into organisation-wide contract portfolios and allow users to submit plain language queries to gain immediate access to relevant contract information. Product features Repository enables the creation of dashboards with custom AI-populated columns, presenting key business and legal insights rapidly. According to Ivo, the platform's AI is capable of clustering related documents, such as amendments linked to master agreements, and can assess the extent to which specific agreements diverge from established standard templates. The Assistant product offers the capability for both legal and business teams to query tens of thousands of contracts using natural language, retrieving comprehensive answers regardless of the contract file's storage location. The underlying AI can respond to detailed questions, for example, identifying all customer contracts with specific data security requirements, by understanding how each contract aligns or deviates from pre-determined standard positions. Min-Kyu Jung, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ivo, commented on the current challenges experienced by legal teams using traditional CLMs. "CLMs were supposed to solve the problem of extracting true intelligence from contracts, but have overpromised and underdelivered. We're solving the knowledge problem. Legal teams don't need another static system of record. They need intelligence at their fingertips — contextual, instant, and deeply reliable." The new Ivo solutions are designed to integrate directly with widely used document management systems, including Google Drive and SharePoint, as well as on-premise solutions. The Assistant will also operate with Ivo's Microsoft Word add-in to provide negotiation recommendations based on insights from previous contracts. Market adoption and scope Following its Series A funding round earlier this year, Ivo has been utilised by over 200 legal teams, including those at Canva, Quora, and Eventbrite. The company reports these organisations have been able to reduce contract review time by up to 75% while maintaining accuracy. With the introduction of Repository and Assistant, Ivo identifies a move from contract review to a broader application it terms 'AI contract intelligence', stating its intention to make CLMs unnecessary without directly replacing them. The company emphasises that its platform is suitable for enterprise-scale deployments, handling extensive portfolios without manual metadata tagging or requiring bulk uploads. "What used to take hours of combing through contracts can now happen in a single sentence. This isn't just faster. It's foundationally smarter," Jung stated, detailing the impact of this approach on business operations. Ivo says the products have been deployed by early access customers in legal, procurement, sales, and operations sectors. The company claims that the technology enables contracts to be transformed from passive records into strategic assets capable of informing business decision-making across departmental boundaries. Industry shift The announcement positions Ivo within a broader industry transition, moving from software systems designed solely for record-keeping to those which support understanding and immediate action. The company cites increased contract complexity and volume as key drivers for the need for improved visibility, precision, and speed. According to Ivo, Repository and Assistant allow for every agreement to become instantly searchable, every risk to be visible, and every contract to serve as a strategic asset for the business. The company states it is working towards building the infrastructure required for this paradigm shift in contract management and analysis.
Spectator
07-06-2025
- Spectator
Tesco's ‘VAR'-style self-checkout cameras are the final straw
Tesco has followed Sainsbury's lead by installing cameras above self-checkouts to identify when shoppers fail to scan an item properly, using the footage to provide a live-action replay of their misdeed. Predictably, it's not gone down well: a video posted on Instagram involving a can of tuna got more than 3.5 million views. When will the supermarkets learn to stop treating their shoppers like criminals? Much of the reaction to Tesco's VAR (Video Assistant Referee) cameras has focused on Britons' humorous responses: 'VAR Decision – Tuna Disallowed,' joked one person. 'Clearly off side,' riffed another. But the growing surveillance in our supermarkets is no laughing matter. Everyone needs to buy food and, with a 28 per cent share of the UK supermarket sector, Tesco is the UK's biggest grocery chain. Shoppers who don't want to be spied on are running out of options. One customer, noticing the new systems in his local store in south-east London, has taken the matter seriously.
Business Insider
04-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
SoundHound AI Stock (SOUN) Hits the High Notes, But Can It Stay in Tune?
SoundHound AI (SOUN) just reported a jaw-dropping 151% jump in quarterly revenue, helping to send the stock up roughly 8.5% in the past month, and over 100% in the past year. Yet, the company finds itself in a familiar spot for many tech-centric growth companies, caught between impressive revenue numbers and stubborn losses. The voice AI specialist has shown tremendous growth potential in an exploding market, but questions persist about when (or if) the company can turn a profit. Confident Investing Starts Here: With the voice AI market projected to reach over $30 billion within the next few years, SoundHound's positioning looks promising. But execution risks and competition from tech giants make this anything but a sure bet. I am neutral on the stock for now and prefer to hold off until a clearer path to profitability emerges. The Numbers Tell a Growth Story SoundHound's recent financial performance appears to be a dream for growth investors. The company's first quarter revenue of $29.1 million is more than double the same period last year. Furthermore, management is projecting full-year revenue between $157 million and $177 million, representing approximately 85-109% growth for 2025. Strategic acquisitions of SYNQ3 and Amelia have broadened SoundHound's capabilities while adding new customers. The company has also diversified across automotive, restaurants, and enterprise sectors, with no single customer representing more than 10% of revenue (a healthy sign). Meanwhile, the market opportunity here is genuinely massive. Voice AI technology is experiencing explosive growth, with industry projections showing the market expanding at nearly 30% annually toward $143 billion by 2033. That's not just hype. Companies across many industries are integrating voice technology into everything from drive-thru windows to car dashboards. Well-Positioned with Enterprise Clients Soundhound's platform is built from the ground up for complex, contextual conversations rather than simple command-and-response interactions. This matters in real-world business applications, where customers may have complex requests or require assistance in navigating multiple options. Rather than competing directly with Amazon's (AMZN) Alexa or Alphabet's (GOOGL) Assistant for consumer attention, the company focuses on providing enterprise solutions. It's building custom voice experiences for brands like Burger King (QSR), partnering with automakers like Hyundai (HYMTF), and creating specialized solutions that big tech companies don't typically offer. The Profitability Problem Here's where SoundHound's story gets complicated. Despite impressive revenue growth, the company is burning through cash at a concerning rate. The first quarter showed an adjusted EBITDA loss of $22.2 million, and gross margins are actually shrinking as the company invests in acquisitions and scales its operations. What's most concerning is the lack of clear guidance on when profitability might arrive. Management hasn't provided a concrete timeline for reaching breakeven, leaving investors to wonder whether the current growth is sustainable or merely a byproduct of expensive customer acquisition that won't pay off in the long term. Despite its current differentiated position in the market, the company operates in a space where it's competing with some of the world's most well-funded technology companies. Amazon, Google, and Apple (AAPL) all have voice AI capabilities and the resources to undercut smaller competitors on price or build competing features into their existing platforms. Should these large tech firms decide to target larger enterprise clients (and why wouldn't they at some point), SoundHound's premium pricing and customization advantages could evaporate quickly. For a company struggling to turn a profit, the music could come to a sudden halt. Watching for Inflection Points Market participants are on the lookout for changes in key metrics, including customer retention rates, organic revenue growth separate from acquisitions, and any concrete guidance toward profitability. The stock is highly shorted, with over 30% of shares held in short interest. Positive news among these key metrics could catalyze a further increase in shares, potentially leading to a short squeeze and creating a positive feedback loop for ongoing momentum in the share price. Is SoundHound AI a Good Stock to Buy? SoundHound's stock currently sits below most analyst price targets, which range from $12 to $18. The consensus rating is a Moderate Buy, reflecting cautious optimism tempered by concerns about execution. Piper Sandler's James Fish initiated coverage of SoundHound with an Overweight rating and set a $12 price target, highlighting the company's potential in the AI voice technology sector. He sees a potential total addressable market of $47 billion by 2027, which is still in its early stages of development. Meanwhile, H.C. Wainwright's analyst Scott Buck has lowered the price target to $18 (from $26), while maintaining a Buy rating. He anticipates revenue growth for SoundHound in the latter half of 2025. Additionally, Wedbush's Daniel Ives has downgraded his price target to $15 (from $22), citing a lower valuation multiple, but retains an Outperform rating. The Bottom Line for SoundHound AI The voice AI market opportunity is real, and SoundHound has positioned itself in an interesting niche with genuine competitive advantages. However, this isn't a stock for investors who need steady returns or can't stomach the possibility of significant losses. The company is still proving its business model, and execution risks remain high. The upcoming quarters will be critical in proving whether SoundHound can evolve from a high-potential growth story into a consistently profitable enterprise. Until that transformation takes shape, the stock remains a speculative play marked by significant volatility — one I'm choosing to stay on the sidelines for now.
Techday NZ
03-06-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
JLL unveils AI assistant to boost property portfolio insights
JLL has introduced a new artificial intelligence solution designed for owners of retail, industrial and office properties. The solution, named JLL Property Assistant, is powered by JLL Falcon and is intended to provide property and asset managers with quicker access to data-driven insights, aiming to enhance the performance of property portfolios. The tool allows users to engage directly with portfolio data using natural language questions, such as "Which retail assets have the highest vacancy risks in Q3?", offering immediate and comprehensive responses. According to JLL, the Property Assistant can generate detailed tenancy reports and stacking plans, as well as analyse expense trends over time. The platform helps reveal important data on tenant retention and occupancy patterns. It also breaks down operational budgets, highlights opportunities for cost control, and offers suggestions to fill vacancies with the aim of maximising rental income. JLL Property Assistant works within a conversational interface and integrates with JLL's Acumen platform, which brings together financial data from systems like Yardi and MRI, operational data from Prism by Building Engines, and other property technology tools. This integration consolidates information into a unified platform, providing property managers with a single source for performance data and reducing the inefficiencies caused by data silos. Neil Murray, Chief Executive Officer of Real Estate Management Services at JLL, said: "JLL Property Assistant will help our clients unlock the true potential of artificial intelligence for the real estate they own. Built on JLL Falcon, the tool provides a unique, interconnected experience that streamlines operations, enhances decision-making, and drives unparalleled value creation. These components - AI, data and best-in-class applications - form the foundation of JLL's property management technology platform, a one-of-a-kind, unified software suite purpose-built to advance the performance and returns of our clients' properties." Users of JLL Property Assistant can ask for portfolio summaries such as net operating income year-to-date, and receive prompt, data-driven answers. The system is designed to let property professionals focus on strategic activities by dramatically reducing the time spent searching for information. The AI assistant's functionality extends to creating comprehensive tenancy reports and stacking plans automatically, tracking and analysing expense patterns, and identifying opportunities through earlier detection of emerging trends in tenant retention and occupancy. This advanced reporting is intended to support a more proactive approach to portfolio management. The operational aspect of the platform includes tools for real-time monitoring of high-priority tasks, identification of possible tenant satisfaction issues, and analysis of maintenance work order trends. These features are designed to reduce operational costs and improve both tenant retention and experience. Financial management is another focus area for the Property Assistant. Through the delivery of detailed operational budget breakdowns and targeted recommendations for cost control, the solution aims to streamline finance reporting, freeing up managers to focus on value-adding activities. The tool also provides data-driven suggestions for filling vacancies in order to increase rental income. Yao Morin, Chief Technology Officer at JLL, commented: "Our AI-powered assistant fundamentally transforms the management of property for investors, delivering unprecedented efficiency, data-driven insights, and optimised performance. The tool empowers property managers and owners to focus on strategic initiatives and enhanced property performance, ultimately driving greater value for their portfolios and revolutionising the industry." JLL has stated that security and privacy were key priorities in the development of the platform. JLL Property Assistant uses enterprise-grade security protocols and applies anonymised global benchmarks for industry analysis. This is intended to ensure the protection of client data while still permitting comparative analytics across the sector.
