You may soon notice a common denominator in the financial report you read, the clothes promotion you observe, and the chat assistant you use: Google’s artificial intelligence.

In order to test its newest technology, so-called generative AI, which creates human-like prose or other content from historical data, Alphabet Inc.’s cloud business is gathering clients.

According to Google, some businesses using its tools include Deutsche Bank AG, Uber Technologies Inc., and a division of Victoria’s Secret & Co., the company said during its I/O conference on Wednesday in Mountain View, California.

Customers are using Google technology in unexpected and predictable ways, such as using a chatbot for Uber’s customer support or AI to process drive-thru orders at an Ohio Wendy’s Co. restaurant.

They show interest at a crucial time for Google. The cloud segment of the company recorded its first operating profit in the most recent quarter, and the AI technology that Google invented could help it catch up to larger rivals Amazon.com Inc. and Microsoft Corp.

On Wednesday, Alphabet released some additional enhancements aimed at attracting business clients, such as Duet AI, a programming assistant for Google Cloud that uses the Codey paradigm.

Clients can trial Google’s AI services for free at the same time, according to Google. Competitors of its are also promoting similar items to businesses that are hesitant to switch. Additionally, Microsoft and its partner OpenAI, who created the ChatGPT phenomenon, are posing a growing threat to Google’s search business.

Alphabet’s AI models, according to Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, are attracting interest from both new and seasoned customers, including those of its rivals.

“They want our access to our models,” he said. Then “they start a relationship.”

Deutsche Bank is one of the organisations expanding its collaboration with Google while continuing to use Microsoft productivity software. According to Bernd Leukert, the bank’s chief technology, data, and innovation officer, a number of tasks are being targeted for automation with the aid of Google’s engineers and its ‘big language models.

In call centres where it needed temporary staff for peak times and workers to undertake menial duties, Deutsche Bank wants this AI to save expenses, he said in an interview. In addition, according to Leukert, the bank is investigating if Google’s AI can create research for its clients and employees using economic data, market reports, and other information.

“The faster you can consume this huge amount of external information, condense it and draw the conclusion out of it, the better it is,” he said. Asked about errors by AI, Leukert said research analysts would have to validate and edit material pre-publication, as the bank would take “a very conservative approach.”

According to him, Deutsche Bank will decide by the end of October which of these initiatives is ready to proceed.

According to Kurian, Adore Me, a Victoria’s Secret division, is one of the businesses utilising the technology. Ad content is being created using AI in Google Docs. Google has also stressed-tested its systems with aid from the Wendy’s trial that started in June.

“You’ve heard about these generative models hallucinating, right?” he said, referring to how they can spout inaccurate information. At Wendy’s, “you don’t want the model to recommend a product that may not exist.”

(Adapted from Reuters.com)