Many people who use Google Assistant around the home (those who aren’t completely and utterly frustrated and done with it by now) often play music on their Nest Hub, Nest Mini, or other Assistant-enabled devices to fall asleep faster. Putting on your favorite lo-fi or relaxing music as opposed to rain sounds can be a […]
Continue ReadingGoogle Assistant
Google Assistant has become the central focus for Google ever since their event in October of 2016. With the roll-out in full swing to many devices across multiple categories, Google Assistant is becoming extremely pervasive. The flagship device for Google Assistant, Google Home, is also powered by a varied version of Chrome OS. As we watch Assistant fully integrate into Chrome OS, we realize the Assitant story is just beginning.
I really hope Google doesn’t kill off “Assistant Memory” before it sees the light of day
Not everyone views or uses data the same way. For instance, many simply consume the things they come across. Others consume it, process that data, and then create something from it by combining many pieces of information as fuel for their imagination. Others still – those seen as “librarians” of knowledge love to collect and […]
Continue ReadingIf you have a love-hate relationship with Google Assistant, an open-source alternative is coming
Did you know that there was an open-source smart home platform called Home Assistant? Me either! News of it comes at just the right time though, because recently, I expressed my frustrations with Google Assistant and its competitors. Instead of being the future we were promised, these AI assistants have largely fallen on hard times […]
Continue ReadingI’m not saying Google Assistant is dumb, but it doesn’t seem as smart as I used to think it was
Google Assistant has fundamentally changed the way we all live our lives. From a convenience standpoint, intelligence and learning, and even a social aspect play a role in how it’s shaped and shifted the landscape of how we interact with technology and one another. Ever since the global COVID-19 pandemic struck, I’ve noticed something strange, […]
Continue ReadingGoogle’s mesmerizing yet terrifying Duplex being shut down for the web, goes incognito instead
I can’t say I saw this coming. After launching in 2019 and making everyone uncomfortable, Google’s mesmerizing yet terrifying Duplex AI is being shut down for the web. The technology began as a smart feature for booking haircut appointments, fixing up your passwords, and buying products among other fringe use cases. TechCrunch reports that it […]
Continue ReadingGoogle Assistant adds parental controls, an educational dictionary, new kid-friendly voices
I’ve always loved Google’s family-centric updates. Any time I see that the company is focusing on the kiddos and how they interact with technology and subsequently, how parents can manage those interactions to protect them as they grow and learn to absorb the world around them, I’m stoked. Today on The Keyword, Google announced a […]
Continue ReadingGoogle Assistant’s new updates will make your Made by Google devices more helpful
At the Made by Google event that took place yesterday, Google highlighted some of the most recent updates to its Assistant’s robust AI capabilities, including new and creative methods for interacting more intuitively with it on the newly launched Pixel 7 series and the Pixel Watch. These are the most notable updates announced: Assistant Voice […]
Continue ReadingGoogle Calendar to rely on Tasks instead of Assistant-based reminders going forward
According to a new APK Insights report by 9to5Google, Google could be moving away from Assistant for reminders inside of its Calendar app. Instead, it’s looking like it could be replaced by the official Google Tasks system – you know, that app that we all thought the company forgot about, but suddenly started getting lots […]
Continue ReadingGoogle Assistant location-based reminders are going away soon
According to an easy-to-miss sentence on a Google Assistant Help page first found by 9to5Google, Assistant’s location-based reminders are being axed entirely. On Android, a notification appears at the top of your “Reminders” page through the Chrome browser or Google app stating this fact while offering alternatives. Important: The option to create reminders for a certain […]
Continue ReadingThe Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 finally lands the Google Assistant
After months of confusion and a lot of back and forth, Samsung has unexpectedly and surprisingly updated the Galaxy Watch 4 to support the Google Assistant. Early on, it wasn’t entirely clear as to when or even if the tech giant would officially support the Assistant but later reports and even a carrier leak informed […]
Continue ReadingHow to use Google Assistant’s Family Bell feature to keep your family on track throughout the day
Google Assistant has a neat little feature that I feel often goes overlooked – at least in my circles. Everytime I tell a friend or a family member that they can automate bells that announce upcoming activities on their Home devices, they look at me with a blank face. This mostly has to do with […]
Continue ReadingFitbit and Google Fit integration with Google Assistant and Nest Hub gets one step closer
The announcement made during Google I/O regarding the release of the Pixel Watch this Fall revealed that it would combine the best of Wear OS and Fitbit. Naturally, this prompted questions regarding how Google plans to merge both worlds. For example, is the Google Fit app taking over the Fitbit app, or vice-versa? According to […]
Continue ReadingAndroid Auto redesign “Coolwalk” official, made for multitasking and adapts to your display size
In just a few months, Google will be rolling out a brand new interface design for Android Auto that’s made to adapt to any screen size. Remember the codename “Coolwalk” from a while back? Well, this is it, and it’s finally coming! The goal of the redesign is to help you get directions faster, control […]
Continue ReadingGoogle Assistant can now be activated without a hot word, will be patient with filler words, pauses
Uncovered by 9to5Google in a recent APK Insights deep dive was a feature for the Nest Hub Max called “Look and talk”. Codenamed “Blue Steel” as a reference to the Ben Stiller movie “Zoolander”, the feature was just officially revealed at Google I/O 2022, and it’s a small part of a much larger initiative where […]
Continue ReadingGoogle TV’s new Ambient Mode with “proactive personal results” rolling out for some
It’s been seven months since Google first announced personalized user profiles and glanceable information in Ambient Mode. Although we have only seen user profiles show up accidentally here and there, we finally have some definitive proof that the new ambient mode is rolling out to some users. A report from 9to5Google states that a notification […]
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