Motorola wants its AI to do more and just get things done, but how?
Motorola has a big idea: it wants you to be able to tell your phone to handle just about anything with no hassle. At Lenovo's Tech World '24 event, the company gave a sneak peek into its new concept, showing off how AI could take on real-world tasks with just a simple voice request.
Motorola is all about bold concepts, and its newest one is a Large Action Model (LAM) – an AI system designed to act on your behalf. The company revealed it's working on a project that merges LAM with Moto AI's capabilities. The idea is that your phone can sense what's going on around you and tackle complex tasks, all through simple, natural conversation.
Soon, Moto users will be able to say things like "order me an iced americano," and Moto AI will find the nearest coffee shop, place the order, and let you know when it's ready for pickup. This same feature will work for other daily tasks, too, like booking an Uber — just tell Moto AI where you want to go, and it'll take care of the rest.
Motorola says future updates to Moto AI will automate everyday tasks, like setting alarms, ordering coffee, and curating music playlists. However, it didn't specify when these updates will hit its phones.
In the meantime, Motorola is making headway with other AI features, which are currently being tested in beta. The company plans to expand beta invites throughout the year, gradually rolling them out to more users. So, what exactly are these AI features?
Smart Connect taps into the power of Hybrid AI, choosing the ideal AI model for each task to enhance both productivity and creativity—whether you're using Magic Canvas or the AI-powered PC creator zone. This means that even traditional devices without built-in AI tools can be upgraded to become AI-enabled.
To top it all off, Meta and Motorola are teaming up to bring smartphone functionalities to Quest headsets. This means users will be able to check messages, access their favorite apps, and more — all without having to take off their headsets. According to the company, Smart Connect is set to make its debut in the Meta Horizon Store soon.
Motorola's AI adventure isn't just starting now; it kicked off back at the 2023 Lenovo Tech World conference with the launch of Moto AI. By June, the company had joined forces with Google to introduce two exciting Moto AI features for the Razr 2024 lineup: Moto Magic Canvas and Style Sync. Moto Magic Canvas lets you whip up AI-generated images from simple text prompts, while Style Sync creates AI-generated wallpapers.
I see Motorola's announcement as yet another indication that tech giants are rethinking smartphone software by weaving AI into the mix. However, with heavyweights like Google and OpenAI leading the charge, smaller players like Motorola need to bring some seriously appealing features and services to the table if they want to stand out in this competitive landscape.
Motorola's vision for the future
Motorola is all about bold concepts, and its newest one is a Large Action Model (LAM) – an AI system designed to act on your behalf. The company revealed it's working on a project that merges LAM with Moto AI's capabilities. The idea is that your phone can sense what's going on around you and tackle complex tasks, all through simple, natural conversation.
You can simply talk to Moto AI and it will perform all the tasks you want it to. | Image credit – Motorola
In the meantime, Motorola is making headway with other AI features, which are currently being tested in beta. The company plans to expand beta invites throughout the year, gradually rolling them out to more users. So, what exactly are these AI features?
Earlier this year, Motorola showed off some cool Moto AI features, like Catch Me Up and Remember This. Catch Me Up gives you a quick summary of your notifications, so you don't have to scroll through a mountain of missed alerts. And then there's Remember This, which lets you save live moments or important info on your screen when you activate it.
The Remember This feature could be a lifesaver for having your flight ticket just a click away. | Image credit – Motorola
Another handy tool, Pay Attention, helps you keep track of instructions without the hassle of writing things down or recording long audio notes.
That said, Motorola hasn't specified which devices are part of the beta testing or how users are selected to participate. So, if you're hoping to try out these new AI features, it's still a bit of a waiting game to see if your device makes the cut.
That said, Motorola hasn't specified which devices are part of the beta testing or how users are selected to participate. So, if you're hoping to try out these new AI features, it's still a bit of a waiting game to see if your device makes the cut.
An even smoother multi-device experience
But that is not all. When Motorola introduced Smart Connect, a seamless multi-device experience, it aimed to bring together the Motorola and Lenovo ecosystems. At the conference, the company showcased how Intelligent Awareness will let users manage their devices effortlessly through natural language commands. This means you'll be able to easily discover, connect, and control everything from smartphones to IoT devices, all within a fully integrated ecosystem.
Smart Connect taps into the power of Hybrid AI, choosing the ideal AI model for each task to enhance both productivity and creativity—whether you're using Magic Canvas or the AI-powered PC creator zone. This means that even traditional devices without built-in AI tools can be upgraded to become AI-enabled.
To top it all off, Meta and Motorola are teaming up to bring smartphone functionalities to Quest headsets. This means users will be able to check messages, access their favorite apps, and more — all without having to take off their headsets. According to the company, Smart Connect is set to make its debut in the Meta Horizon Store soon.
I see Motorola's announcement as yet another indication that tech giants are rethinking smartphone software by weaving AI into the mix. However, with heavyweights like Google and OpenAI leading the charge, smaller players like Motorola need to bring some seriously appealing features and services to the table if they want to stand out in this competitive landscape.
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