As promised, Google is now rolling out Google Assistant to devices running Android 6.0 or later. Up until now the new version of Google’s digital assistant software had only been available on Pixel smartphones, the Google Home smart speaker and in the Google Allo chat app.

In some ways, Google Assistant is just a souped up version of the “OK Google” voice search/command service that’s been around for years. You can ask questions, listen to answers, set reminders, and interact with some other features on a phone using your voice.

But you can also play games by voice, control some smart home products, and shop at some stores. And Google Assistant will get smarter and more capable over time as Google adds features… and as third-party developers do.

Google Assistant supports third-party “actions” much the way Amazon’s Alexa voice service supports “skills.”

The rollout of Google Assistant starts today for Android Nougat and Marshmallow users in the United States.  It should be available in the UK, Canada, Australia, and Germany soon. The update comes via a new version of Google Play Services, so it should show up on most phones without the need for an operating system update.

via /r/Android

Support Liliputing

Liliputing's primary sources of revenue are advertising and affiliate links (if you click the "Shop" button at the top of the page and buy something on Amazon, for example, we'll get a small commission).

But there are several ways you can support the site directly even if you're using an ad blocker* and hate online shopping.

Contribute to our Patreon campaign

or...

Contribute via PayPal

* If you are using an ad blocker like uBlock Origin and seeing a pop-up message at the bottom of the screen, we have a guide that may help you disable it.

Subscribe to Liliputing via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 9,547 other subscribers

2 replies on “Google Assistant begins rollout for Android 6.0 and later”

  1. I really prefer the Assistant to Search, TBH. So many more things it can do.

    Just needs a custom hotword. Sooo much stuff in my house answers to OK Google now.

    Edit: Should we be looking for an update, or is it something Google is going to turn on serverside?

Comments are closed.