Google Assistant is Coming to Smart Speakers

Google Assistant is Coming to Smart Speakers

Google this week is announcing a series of partners who are bringing its Google Assistant technology to their smart speakers.

“From the start, we’ve believed that your Google Assistant should be available wherever you need help, and that’s why it’s already on Google Home, eligible Android phones, iPhones, Google Allo, and Android Wear,” Google senior director Abhi Taneja writes. “This week, we’re continuing to make your Assistant available in even more places.”

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At IFA in Berlin this week, Google is revealing which hardware partners are adopting Google Assistant for their smart speakers. Sonos isn’t on the list—yet—but it will be: Sonos has already revealed that it will partner with multiple digital assistants, and it has an October event lined up.

For now, Google says that the Zolo Mojo by Anker, TicHome Mini by Mobvoi, and the GA10 by Panasonic will all offer integrated Google Assistant capabilities. And the firm will reveal more Google Assistant-powered speakers later in the week. The devices will ship “later this year” and most will be available in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, and France.

As exciting, Google says that device types that will work with Google Assistant. IFA is a “consumer electronics and home appliance trade show,” it notes, and “throughout the next few days, you’ll hear about a number of new products that either have the Assistant built in (you can talk to them) or that work with the Assistant (you can control them with the Google Assistant).” And it is providing one example: LG’s smart appliances—including washers, dryers, vacuums—will all work with Google Assistant.

“The Assistant already supports more than 70 home automation manufacturers, including Honeywell, Netatmo, TP-Link, and Wemo, so you can get help with everyday things using your voice,” Google notes. “Whether you need to dim the lights to 20%, set the sprinkler, or turn on your slow cooker, you can just start with ‘OK, Google…'”

 

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Conversation 10 comments

  • Mark from CO

    30 August, 2017 - 11:34 am

    <p>Satya:</p><p><br></p><p>The hordes are at the gates of the empire, breaking down the gates. Wake up… Wake up…</p><p><br></p><p>Mark from CO</p>

    • GarethB

      Premium Member
      30 August, 2017 - 8:48 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#169762"><em>In reply to Mark from CO:</em></a></blockquote><p>He's off on his cloud. Talking to enterprises. They're completely asleep at the wheel for consumers.</p><p>I love how Cortana has been around for how long, but is only fully featured in a couple of markets, where Google Assistant – the newcomer – and has 3rd party devices in 6 countries. MS is really just deadwood in the consumer market (but, don't worry, the 1 Cortana speaker will be out sometime in the next 12 months …)</p>

  • Chris Payne

    30 August, 2017 - 12:18 pm

    <p>"…Google says that device types that will work…"</p><p><br></p><p>What? I think there's a missing word(s) in there.</p>

  • ozaz

    30 August, 2017 - 4:21 pm

    <p>Looking forward to hearing what Sonos has lined up</p>

  • Roger Ramjet

    30 August, 2017 - 9:12 pm

    <p>Google&nbsp;continuing this depends heavily on maintaining their Android control, that's the beast that clears the roads for them. But the EU is about to say Nein. If EU forces Google to unbundle Android in Europe, Microsoft is virtually the only company that the OEMs can turn to in the short and medium term, it is virtually the reverse of the US situation back then on Windows monopoly. And all things equal Microsoft should be able to take at least 25-35% of the more valuable part (using the Enterprise angle and other differentiator strategies) into their own ecosystem, leaving Google with eyeballs that may not have as much $ per person. Perhaps it is not a coincidence that Google is furiously investing in Chrome OS, and some attempts at business services. But that is a long row to hoe there, if they loose control of Android. Jeff Bezos always had great timing …</p>

    • Tony Barrett

      31 August, 2017 - 6:17 am

      <blockquote><a href="#170239"><em>In reply to Roger Ramjet:</em></a></blockquote><p>Google already 'unbundle' Android via the AOSP. Anyone can download, customize and use this (yeah, even Microsoft could!). It's only the Google Apps (inc Play Store) that Google maintain tight control of. That's an Android phones entry point to the Google ecosystem, but you don't need these to use vanilla Android!</p>

      • GarethB

        Premium Member
        31 August, 2017 - 9:49 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#170300"><em>In reply to ghostrider:</em></a></blockquote><p>True, but it's like saying that Microsoft could have 'unbundled' the OS and given away a free version of DOS (or a text-only NT OS). Nobody cares about AOSP, what they want is Play Store, Google Maps, etc – *that* is Android as far as the normal person goes. But if anyone wants that, or part of it, they have to take everything else that Google jams into the 'bundle' – including having Google.com as the default search engine.</p>

  • melinau

    Premium Member
    31 August, 2017 - 5:43 am

    <p>All well &amp; good, but we don't need all these competing systems, we need a "standard".</p><p>I bought Google Home, and it works OK, but is limited by whatever deals Google has done andor Android.</p><p>I don't want to buy my Home Appliances etc. based on which of the various "Assistants" andor "Platforms" they support.</p>

  • Bats

    31 August, 2017 - 12:56 pm

    <p>I just read an article, that Google has a Harman Kardon speaker also.</p>

  • FesterSilently

    31 August, 2017 - 1:08 pm

    <p>Actually, a couple months back, I noticed a firmware up date for all my JBL Bluetooth speakers (Flip 3, Flip 4, Xtreme); as far as I can tell, the only thing it did was add Google Assistant access to each. :)</p>

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