Google Assistant

One area where Google applied machine learning is flight delay predictions in Search. After launching earlier this year on the web, Google Assistant will now show predicted flight delays and soon provide proactive notification alerts on your phone.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Over the past couple of months, Google has been rolling out several updates to the Assistant interface. This week, it seems the company is testing another new UI change for Google Assistant on Android, this time with a condensed size and bottom bar.

Expand
Expanding
Close

At I/O 2018, Google introduced six new voices for Assistant based on DeepMind’s WaveNet. This allowed users to customize voice interaction on Android phones, Google Home, and now Smart Displays. Google Assistant today is gaining an Australian-accented and British-accented voice for even more customization.

Expand
Expanding
Close

As smart speakers proliferate and enter people’s homes, voice as a platform continues to develop and mature. Google is now exploring the “future of audio news” on Assistant with Google News and publications around the world. Asking for news on phones or Google Home will become more personalized and better at delivering updates throughout the day.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Back at I/O 2018, Google announced that Assistant was coming to Google Maps. Specifically, a visually compact and less disruptive version would appear when getting directions. This navigation-optimized Google Assistant is now rolling out in Google Maps for Android.

Expand
Expanding
Close

The weather is a very popular question that people search for and frequently ask Google Assistant on Home, Smart Displays, Android, and other devices. However, this particular query is currently experiencing some issues this morning and not providing back any results.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Recently, Google updated their Family Link program with Chromebook support, to help families supervise Chromebook usage. However, this initial Chrome OS version of Family Link did not allow child accounts to use the (initially Pixelbook exclusive) Google Assistant features. This will soon be changing according to a newly discovered code change.

Expand
Expanding
Close

With the holiday season underway, Google is announcing a slew of new features for Assistant speakers and Smart Displays. This includes the Pretty Please feature for families announced at I/O 2018, Assistant notes and lists integration, Broadcast Replies, and visual lyrics for the Home Hub.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google has enlisted the help of a whole host of prominent YouTube stars to highlight the benefits of the Google Assistant Routines feature. The videos include some of the biggest names on the website including Todrick Hall, TheSorryGirls, Jackie Aina, Lele Pons, Katrina Garcia, and The Action Lab.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Lenovo delivered the first Google Assistant smart display to market, but the Google Home Hub recently debuted with a lot of extra functions and features. Now, a new update heading out to the Lenovo Smart Display is adding more functionality to the Home Hub, as well as new cooking features, and more.

Expand
Expanding
Close

The biggest “wow moment” of Google I/O earlier this year was the reveal of Google Duplex. The feature instantly impressed the crowd and brought up tons of intriguing questions. Now, it’s finally starting to roll out, at least to Pixel owners in select cities.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Perhaps like many of you, I’ve had to embrace the world of Bluetooth headphones and earbuds much sooner than I would’ve liked. Mobvoi makes some superb Wear OS smartwatches, but the IndieGoGo-backed TicPods Free finally give Android users a solid alternative to Apple AirPods.

Expand
Expanding
Close

While Google Assistant smart displays options are still quite limited, there’s already a model for nearly every user. The first option was that of the Lenovo Smart Display. Though now, everything is compared to the Google Home Hub that undercut the pricing of everyone else. For Black Friday, however, the Home Hub and smaller Lenovo Smart Display have the same price tag, and I think Lenovo’s might be a better buy. Here’s why.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Way back at CES this past January, Google Assistant smart displays were revealed, and LG was among one of Google’s first partners. However, following Lenovo and JBL launches, LG was fairly quiet. Today, launch details for the LG smart display, WK9, have been revealed, including a $100 price cut.

Expand
Expanding
Close

While the Pixel 3 doesn’t add a lot of jaw-dropping new features, one that turned heads was the call screening feature. Now, it’s looking like Pixel 2 call screening is starting to roll out.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Amid a series of hardware unveils at 10/9, Google announced several new features for Assistant. The Home View dashboard launched on the Google Home Hub and made its way to other Smart Displays, along with Digital Wellbeing. Google Assistant is now adding Broadcast replies, cooking cards, and more.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Routines in Google Assistant allow users to string together various Actions that are naturally invoked together over the course of a day. Useful for controlling smart home gadgets, these custom macros now integrate with Google Clock to invoke after an alarm is dismissed. Meanwhile, Assistant will soon be able to invoke Do Not Disturb on your phone.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Earlier this month, a Google Assistant redesign first announced at I/O 2018 began rolling out on Android. Taking cues from Smart Displays, the Assistant became more visual, touch-friendly, and provided quick access to the Updates feed. Over the past 24 hours, a Google Assistant bug has caused this design to disappear for some users.

Expand
Expanding
Close