At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2019 in Las Vegas, Google has announced several new features for the Google Assistant. The search engine giant is bringing together the best of artificial intelligence (AI) and other Google services to its digital assistant.
One of the most notice worthy feature is the Google Assistant Connect which is currently in preview. It is a platform that will allow device manufacturers to easily integrate the Google Assistant into the products they build. Google believes that the Connect will create opportunities for OEMs to bring different types of smart devices to market.
Google Assistant is now coming to Google Maps on Android and iOS. It will assist users to navigate in Google Maps with voice. They can share their ETA with friends and family, reply to text messages, play music and podcasts, search for places along the route, add a new stop and auto-punctuate the message. To open Google Maps, users will just need to say, “Hey Google, take me home.”
The Interpreter Mode on Google Home devices and Smart Displays is getting a new feature, which will help users to have a conversation in multiple languages. To activate Interpreter Mode, just say “Hey Google, be my French interpreter” and the assistant will provide real-time spoken and written translation to support the conversation.
Google Assistant will now power a Smart Clock by Lenovo. It is a 4-inch touchscreen clock that will provide alarm recommendation on the basis of daily routines. The screen will have auto-adjusting brightness and animations, and it can also be used to control other smart devices in home.
Sonos One and Sonos Beam, the smart speakers, will now be powered by Google Assistant. It will make things easier for users to control their favorite music, podcasts, and radio stations without using the phone.
Google will also bring its assistant to more media and entertainment devices later this year. It is very likely that Samsung TVs will also integrate Google Assistant this year.
“You’ll be able to use your voice to turn on the TV, change volume and channels, and switch between inputs. DISH’s Hopper family of receivers will also now have the Google Assistant built in, so you can search for content based on channel, title, actor or genre, as well as check the weather or control other connected devices in your home, using your DISH voice remote,” wrote Manuel Bronstein, Vice President of Product, Google Assistant, in a blog post.
For travelers, Google is making it smoother for them to check in to flight by just saying “Hey Google, check in to my flight”. The Assistant will check in for the users, avoiding the need for them to remember confirmation number. This feature will initially be available with domestic flights by United Airlines.
Further, Google Assistant will also be able to check availability of hotels, pricing options, and books the rooms by paying from Google Pay account.
Also read: Google Assistant redesigned with new visual interfaces and development tools
Additionally, the search engine giant announced at CES 2019 that it is working with more companies like Whirlpool and GE to launch more smart devices this year.
“We’re focused on building the most helpful digital assistant when you’re at home, in your car or on the go,” wrote Bronstein.
