BY MADISON MACK

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

Android users rejoice. According to Android and Me, Google is working hard on its answer to Apple’s Siri -- and it could be released as early as the next few months.  
 
The project is codenamed Majel after Majel Barret-Roddenberry, voice of the Federation Computer on Star Trek. It’s being developed by Google’s secretive long-term project team Google X. Android and Me explains how Majel will be different from Android’s current Voice Actions. (Youtube)

“Where Voice Actions required you to issue specific commands like ‘send text to…’ or ‘navigate to…’, Majel will allow you to perform actions in your natural language similar to how Siri functions.”

But Mashable explains – its functionality will be limited at first.

“We expect Google will use Majel for search queries at first, and will incorporate other commands such as controlling phone and app actions down the line. “

Geek.com says Google is wise for quickly developing a Siri rival but notes – it will be an uphill battle.

“Siri’s tech can’t be duplicated overnight: its tech has roots in a military DARPA project, and is the culmination of over 40 years of research. It was also developed independently as a third-party app before Apple bought it in 2010. ... Google is also competing against a moving target...”
 

Softpedia sees larger potential for Majel in all Google services.


"Its search engine can already interpret voice searches, adding natural language to the mix would be a huge boon. With the technology readily available, it's hard not to imagine Google using it in many of its products, especially the search-related ones."

And the codename leaves a blogger for Lifehacker longing for the real Majel voice.

“It's too bad that Majel Barrett-Roddenberry (the voice of the computer from Star Trek) isn't around anymore, because having her record all the possible responses, or somehow synthesizing her voice to be the voice of Android's "computer" would be amazing.”


SOC