How Google Assistant works, the voice assistant integrated in many products: smartphones, smartwatches, earphones, washing machines and vacuum cleaners.
If some time ago we were told that one day we would talk to a cell phone or a loudspeaker to get information about the weather, send a message or turn on the lights in our living room, perhaps we would not have believed it. Yet voice assistants have now become the norm and are helping to make our homes smarter. Google Assistant , Amazon Alexa , Siri , Cortana : they are all virtual assistants developed by the big technological giants that help us carry out small daily actions.
Google Assistant is probably the most popular thanks to integration with smartphones , smartwatches , headsets , smart speakers such as the second generation Google Nest Hub , refrigerators, smart home devices, smart TVs , etc.
Presented as a simple method for giving basic commands, voice assistants have evolved to the point of being able to give life to speeches that are very close to human language. The interaction has become more and more natural so that today we can ask our Google Assistant to tell us a joke or to tell us the title of the song we are whistling.
What is Google Assistant?;How Google Assistant works
Google Assistant is the virtual assistant announced by the Mountain View giant in 2016 during the annual conference dedicated to developers. It was originally intended exclusively for Pixel smartphones . Only later was it extended to other Android smartphones, to smartwatches with Android Wear (which later became WearOS), to Apple devices based on iOS and then to all the products currently on the market. Today it is present practically everywhere.
The heart of Google Assistant, like all virtual assistants, is artificial intelligence which is able to correctly interpret an input and provide an adequate output for what has been asked. In fact, to work, it always needs an Internet connection . Over time, both the response speed and the listening quality have significantly improved. Everything is now handled in a few moments making the conversation almost instant.
Google Assistant is seamlessly integrated into the Big-G ecosystem. It can interact with all Google services: Gmail, Calendar, Meet, YouTube, Translator, Photos etc. To these is added a long list of services that we use daily: from WhatsApp to Netflix via Spotify and GialloZafferano.
The complete list of data services from Google Assistant is available on the Google website .
How does it work?;How Google Assistant works
To interact with the assistant, we mainly use voice commands but we can also give them manually , especially with a smartphone. A simple word like “ Ok Google ” or “ Hey Google ” is enough to wake up Google Assistant and have a handyman assistant at our disposal. The commands are potentially infinite.
We can ask for information on the weather, traffic, appointments of the day. We can order Google Assistant to turn the lights on or off (if compatible and associated with our Google account), to set an alarm or to send messages.
One of the most interesting and useful functions is that of being able to set up routines. A routine causes a single command to match multiple actions. Let’s take an example. By saying good morning to Google Assistant by saying “ Google good morning ”, our assistant will be able to provide us with information on the weather, remind us of the day’s appointments, read us the latest news, deactivate silent mode from our smartphone, turn on the connected smart lights. All actions can be pre-configured to our liking.
To set up a routine, you need to follow some simple steps:
- Click on the colored icon of the Google app
- Select the three dots (…) at the bottom right
- Select Settings
- Choose the item “Google Assistant”
- Choose the “Routine” option
Here you will find a series of routines already preset by Google itself that you can modify. Or you can create one from scratch.
As we have said, the information that Google Assistant can provide us is manifold: information on traffic, on the opening of shops and restaurants, on sports results, etc. The Interpreter function is also very interesting . By pronouncing the phrase “ Ok Google, be my interpreter ” the assistant will ask us in which language we want to translate and will begin to translate what we say. The service is linked to Google Translate which must be installed on the device we are using.
Google Assistant per la smart home
The integration of Google Assistant on products such as Google Nest Audio smart speakers has led to the spread of what is called a smart home . Once connected to our home network and well configured, the assistant is able to manage all the smart devices in the house.
Imagine you have a Philips Hue light bulb in your home , a smart socket to which you have connected the coffee machine, a Bticino smart thermostat and a TV to which you have connected a Chromecast . In this scenario, you can ask your Nest Audio to turn off the living room light, turn on the heating and start your favorite Netflix series. All comfortably seated on your sofa.
Google Nest Audio
And the coffee machine? Here we return to the concept of routine. If previously set, giving – for example – a good morning to Google, the coffee machine will also be turned on and will be ready for use as soon as we get out of bed to start our day.
In short, with the famous motto ‘ Make Google do it ‘, Assistant is revolutionizing the way we manage our increasingly interconnected electronic devices.
Google Assistant compatible devices
Smart speaker con Google Home
Google Assistant is present everywhere. The Mountain View giant has in its catalog the line of Nest smart speakers that allow you to take advantage of all the potential offered by the home assistant and enjoy good audio quality. However, it is also available on smart speakers from other brands including Sony , Sonos and LG .
Smart speaker Sonos
Smartphones and smartwatches compatible with Google Home
It is integrated in all Android smartphones, from cheap ones like Redmi Note 11 and Galaxy A13 to more expensive ones like OPPO Find X5 Pro , Galaxy S22 Ultra and Xiaomi 12 . These are just examples, as if a smartphone is based on Android, Google Assistant is supported. Some models also have a dedicated physical button to quickly call up the voice assistant. As we said, it can also be used on Apple devices, such as iPhone 13, by installing the relevant application.
No less are WearOS-based smartwatches, such as Fossil, Mobvoi and Montblanc watches. It has also recently been available on Samsung’s Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch5 .
Galaxy Watch5 Pro
Headphones compatible with Google Home
Staying on the subject of wearable devices, there are also many headsets that support Google Assistant. At the top of the list are obviously Google’s earphones, such as the Pixel Buds-A. In addition to those of Big-G, the voice assistant can also be used on the earphones and headphones of other brands such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 or the JBL Live Pro 2.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Home devices compatible with Google Home
If, on the other hand, you want to make your entire home compatible with Google Assistant (or better with Google Home), there are many products available: from IKEA’s smart home selection to Philips light bulbs passing through LG washing machines such as the AI DD or robotic vacuum cleaners such as Ecovacs. DEEBOT N8 Pro
