Google Allo Messaging App Uses Machine Learning To Take On WhatsApp, Snapchat And Messenger

Google has launched a so-called smart messaging application named Allo that features its new Google Assistant. With the aid of artificial intelligence, the app will learn how users speak and eventually generate automatic replies for them based on their previous conversations, the Alphabet unit said at its Google I/O 2016 developers conference Wednesday. Pronounced "Aloe," the product is Google's latest attempt to gain a foothold in the huge messaging app market, where it has so far failed to make an impact against market leaders WhatsApp, Snapchat and Facebook's Messenger. Allo will be based on users' phone numbers rather than their Google accounts (although users will be able to connect that way in the event they desire to do so). It includes all the features expected in a messaging app, including customer stickers that Google commissioned specifically for Allo.