Google is reportedly working on a new messaging service that will utilize some of the company’s artificial intelligence technology. In addition to communicating with friends, users will be able to message Google’s integrated chatbots in order to get information, according to the Wall Street Journal.
People familiar with the matter said that the chatbots will search the web and other sources for information to answer a question. They added that Google likely will allow outside developers to build chatbots to run on the service.
The project is allegedly spearheaded by Google veteran Nick Fox, the company’s vice president of communications products. In October, Fox attempted to buy 200 Labs Inc., a small firm specializing in chatbots, but the company declined his offer. It’s thought that their technology, which selects the best chatbot to respond to a particular request, would have been used in Google’s upcoming service.
