Is Google Duplex real or was it just a slick presentation?

Is Google’s incredibly creepy Google Duplex real? One news organization has been making some calls to find out. So far, Google hasn’t been answering.

At this month’s I/O conference, Google demoed a new artificial intelligence-powered tool called Duplex. Now, Axios has done some digging and is convinced the demonstration wasn’t real, at least as it was presented.

First, here’s the video introducing Duplex:

Best Buy: Preorder the Meta Quest 3

Get Asgard’s Wrath 2 free when you buy Meta Quest 3. Also, get a 6-month trial of a Meta Quest+ VR subscription when you purchase a 512GB headset. Act fast, limited-time offer.

Preorder Now

As you can see, CEO Sundar Pichai introduced Google Duplex by presenting phone calls between Google Assistant and a hair salon and a restaurant. As Pichai explains:

What you’re going to hear is the Google assistant actually calling a real salon to schedule an appointment for you. Let’s listen.

Axios thinks the exchanges presented in the video are suspicious, suggesting no “real” business would answer a phone with “Hello, how can I help you?” or “Hi, may I help you?” To prove the point, Axios called over two dozen hair salons and restaurants, including some in Mountain View, California where Google is based. In every case, the person on the other line gave the name of the business.

Meet Therabody's All-New TheraFace Mask

TheraFace Mask is a breakthrough FDA-cleared LED skincare mask with added tension-relieving vibration therapy. Clinically proven results include firmer, smoother, healthier-looking skin with a visible reduction in fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven tone in as little as 8 weeks

Learn More

Additionally:

There also does not seem to be ambient noise in either recording, such as hair dryers or plates clattering. We heard that in most of the businesses we called, but not in all.

Finally, neither the hair salon nor the restaurant ask for the customer’s phone number or any other contact information.

Convinced the Duplex introduction wasn’t real, Axios attempted to contact Google. So far, there’s been no response.

As the website concludes:

Bottom line: Google may well have created a lifelike voice assistant that we’ll all eventually use to complete mundane tasks like appointment scheduling. It also might be close to creating such a thing, but not quite there yet. Or it was partially staged. Or something else entirely. We just don’t know, because Google won’t answer the questions.

I’ve been saying all week Google Duplex sounded creepy. Based on the silence Axios has so far received, I’m beginning to wonder whether the software will ever see the light of day.

What say you? Leave your comments below.

Bryan M. Wolfe

Bryan considers himself a well-rounded techie, having written articles for MakeUseOf, KnowTechie, AppAdvice, iDownload Blog. When he's not writing, he's being a single dad and rooting for his alma mater, Penn State, or cheering on the Patriots.