Google's 'deceitful' AI assistant to identify itself as a robot during calls

Google Duplex, which simulates human speech with lifelike inflections, criticised as unethical

Google's AI assistant will identify itself as a robot when calling up businesses on behalf of human users, the company has confirmed, following accusations that the technology was deceitful and unethical.

The feature, called Google Duplex, was demonstrated at the company's I/O developers' conference on Tuesday. It is not yet a finished product, but in the two demos played for the assembled crowd, it still managed to be eerily lifelike as it made bookings at a hair salon and a restaurant.