In 2017, Google Assistant was the crown jewel of Google’s innovation. With a simple voice command, you could turn your television on or off, play music on your Google Nest Mini, hear bad jokes, or even host a game show. It was not only impressive – it was a technology ahead of its time.

A year later, Google kept the pace and announced exciting new enhancements to Google Assistant at its annual I/O conference. They were intelligent features, such as Call Screen – a game changer in a world filled with scam calls, where telcos were doing little about it – and Google Duplex, which enabled Google Assistant to make phone calls on your behalf, like booking a restaurant reservation.

The Decline of Google Assistant

However, in subsequent years, updates to Google Assistant strangely failed to generate the same buzz – at least for me. Features like Continued Conversation, where you could ask follow-up questions without saying “Hey Google,” as well as Interpreter Mode, Driving Mode, and Routines, felt more like incremental upgrades. In hindsight, they seemed to reflect Google resting on its laurels – after all, its main competitor, Apple, had a far less capable Siri.

ChatGPT Takes Over

Then came November 2022. OpenAI shocked the world with the launch of its generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool, ChatGPT. The announcement jolted everyone awake because AI had arrived. And it struck a sudden blow to Google Assistant – perhaps even threatening the very existence of the Google search engine.

Not going down without a fight, Google finally sprang into innovation mode – and quickly. In early 2023, they introduced Bard, their generative AI, as part of Google Assistant. Unfortunately, it turned out flawed and premature. It produced inaccurate responses, was laggy, and overall disappointed many who longed for the glory days of the original Assistant.

Eventually, Google did pull up its socks. In late 2023, they launched Gemini and rebranded Bard accordingly. Gemini has since grown stronger, recovering from its initial letdown. The launch of NotebookLM, which reimagines how we understand and interact with information, and AI Studio, which allows developers to explore generative AI, signal that Gemini is regaining its footing in the intelligence race. This is despite growing competition from emerging AI models, especially from China.

The Race Towards Generative Superintelligence Begins

Now, with Gemini maturing and receiving regular updates, Google Assistant is officially heading into retirement. By the end of 2025, access to Google Assistant will become unavailable, marking the end of an era – one that made many rethink the future of autonomous technology.

But the road ahead for Gemini won’t be a walk in the park. As we speak, the generative AI world is racing towards Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). It is an AI that can think independently before making decisions or taking actions based on user prompts.

In that space, Manus AI, a relative newcomer, seems to be emerging as a frontrunner, even though it has yet to face the full rigours of real-world testing – which may reveal the good, the bad, and the ugly.

While Google’s Gemini will undoubtedly continue working toward AGI, the rise of ChatGPT and the pitfall of Google Assistant remind us of one crucial lesson in technological evolution: the race to the top isn’t about being one step ahead – it’s about being two steps ahead. I’m referring to Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) – an AI that could develop emotions and consciousness. That’s the end game.

Who Will Win the AI Race?

Who will emerge as the winner? It’s hard to tell. Perhaps Gemini AI, ChatGPT, or Manus AI. Or maybe a darker horse will appear and shake up the leaderboard once again.

For now, let me get back to creating my Chibi character on ChatGPT.