Microsoft announced a robot that acts as a receptionist. They have selected a role that will be the future meet and greet for every organisation on the planet.
Chief Research and Strategy officer Craig Mundie demonstrated a software-based robot that uses a combination of visual and voice recognition as well as speech synthesis to handle basic tasks.
It is interesting that this chatterbot has been positioned as a software robot, which provides a valuable insight to Microsoft’s marketing strategy for artificial intelligence.
Microsoft itself plans to use the software robot to handle shuttle requests in its own buildings, which typically have a pair of receptionists to handle visitors and shuttle requests.
In a video, two Microsoft employees approach the robot, who said (in a rather robotic voice)
"Which building do you want to go to?"
After checking that she heard the visitors correctly and double-checking both workers want to take the same shuttle, the robot declares:
"It should be here in four minutes."
"This is what a natural user interface is all about and it won't be just a receptionist," Mundie said.
"This is just the tip of the iceberg."
Craig Mundie is Ray Ozzie’s peer.
It is Craig that is using 25% of Microsoft’s R&D budget for AI to take the lead for Web 4.0 (refer to blog reference AI 1).
The Cloud Wars will heat up next year as AI becomes the differentiator for the Cloud. Look what Mundie said to Wall Street analysts at the launch of their AI receptionist.
"FY 09 will round out the story with some significant announcements".
Google, Amazon, Salesforce, Yahoo! And the other Cloud players beware!
