In what could be a convenient—or creepy—move for some, Google may be planning to let automated bots do your socializing for you.
Google has just filed a patent for what it called an "automated generation of suggestions for personalized reactions in a social network."
An abstract of the patent described a "system and method for automatic generating suggestions for personalized reactions or messages."
Google said a suggestion generation module may have collector modules for credentials, a suggestion analyzer, a user interface module and a decision tree.
The modules can interact with other systems like e-mail, SMS, micro blogging services, social networks or other systems.
A separate article on tech site Mashable said the patent in effect lets the software learn a user's voice by studying his or her social media accounts.
It then suggests possible updates and replies for future posts.
"The aim is for the bot to learn how you tweet and Facebook so it can gradually manage that for you — effectively outsourcing how you digitally socialize," Mashable said.
However, a user has to give Google permission to access his or her online presence, for this to work.
Privacy concerns
Mashable said the "limitless access" has raised concerns about cyber privacy.
It quoted Nick Pickles, director of Big Brother Watch, as saying the social data to be accessed is valuable to both governments and companies.
He said he was "extremely concerned about any technology that purports to offer convenience while in reality exposing more of our private communications to prying eyes.”
On the other hand, Mashable noted Google has yet to translate the patent into a product. — TJD, GMA News
source: gmanetwork.com
