From Voice Commands to Multimodal Interaction: The Evolution of AI Assistants When Siri was first introduced in 2011, it was the next frontier in personal technology—a voice-activated assistant that would transform how we interact with our devices. Fast forward 13 years, and what once seemed revolutionary now almost appears antediluvian. Siri was envisioned as a tool that would diminish our physical interaction with screens, allowing us to control our phones and access information almost entirely via voice commands. The public expectation soared, imagining a future where our technological interactions would be effortlessly verbal, mirroring conversations with a human assistant. However, as we ventured deeper into the AI landscape, it became evident that the capabilities of virtual assistants could extend far beyond voice commands. Indeed, the advent of Large Language Models like ChatGPT demonstrated that AI is capable of handling multimodal inputs-outputs; in other words, it can reason across text, images, video, code, and more. Google's Project Astra is a prime example of these advanced capabilities in action, aiming to redefine the interaction paradigm between humans and AI. Project Astra Project Astra represents a significant evolution in AI technology, as showcased in the video above. It recognizes and remembers the world around it, understanding context and taking proactive actions. This capability is rooted in Astra being one of the most powerful natively built multimodal models. Previously, separate models trained on single modalities handled different tasks. In contrast, Astra's training incorporates various data types, allowing it to operate more powerfully and execute tasks more swiftly. It redefines the role of an AI assistant, offering a platform that is not just more powerful but also more intuitive in how it interacts with and serves humans in nuanced ways. Smart Glasses Admittedly, the optimal utilization of Project Astra is realized through Smart Glasses, which allows users to remain fully immersed in their environment while seamlessly accessing AI assistance. This integration points to a future where AI transcends the role of a mere tool and becomes an integral, unobtrusive extension of our daily lives.