Every Google Assistant command you want to give your Home or Nest speaker
Google wants its AI-powered voice assistant to spread to every corner of tech. As of today, you can find Google Assistant in a wide variety of smart speakers — from the original Google Home ($99 at Walmart) to the new Google Nest Mini (formerly the Google Home Mini) to third-party options from companies such as JBL. You can find it in smart displays such as the Google Nest Hub (formerly the Google Home Hub), Nest Hub Max and the new Google Nest Wifi mesh network access points. Full Story: CNET
It is early days for Voice search and the discipline is still far from defined. However, this initial era of Voice assistants has provided us a framework for how to think about voice-first search and how to help content become an answer for users. Although the process and sources may evolve, the thinking and best practices are likely to remain. With this context in mind, let’s explore how search operates via Voice assistants today: Full Story: AiThority
Google Assistant has a new look on the Pixel 4
Google has given Assistant an overhaul, giving it a fresh look for Pixel 4 and making the voice assistant more useful, with a better understanding of context for the information or actions you ask it about. At the Made by Google event, the company showcased some of what the new Assistant has in store, including a zippy flow from Maggie Rogers’ Twitter account to her upcoming shows, sharing that info with a friend and looking for tickets using the Continued Conversation feature. Full Story: Engadget
OK Google, show us what the new Nest Wifi and Nest Mini can do
If you’re the kind of home owner who hates the sight of (yet another) tech gadget and its accompanying cords marring the carefully curated perfection of your interior decor, or if you get creeped out by the idea of a device that seems to be listening in on you, know that Martha Stewart is a fan of smart home devices. Full Story: CNA
2 Reasons Why Big Tech Is So Invested in Voice Assistants
Home voice assistants have become staples of big technology companies even though the devices are rarely profitable. So why are the Silicon Valley giants investing so much in the tech? Full Story: Motley Fool
Google Assistant will remember everything, forever, unless you tell it when to stop
Relying on Google Home ($99 at Walmart) to manage your digital life requires something of a trade off in regard to your privacy, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to give up all your secrets just to get your smart speaker to work for you. It’s quite possible, through a combination of security settings and responsible privacy practices, to minimize the amount and kind of data you share with Google, and yet still take advantage of the hands-free convenience Google Home affords. The key is to know which info your Google Home can live without and still work the way you want it to. Full Story: CNET
What Happens When ‘Generation Voice’ Grows Up?
When my mother sees me using a smart speaker, even for mundane use cases like turning on the living room light, a flash of surprise comes across her face. She can’t believe that conversational computing is a thing, despite the fact that I work in the field and many of her Boomer friends are avid voice users. Full Story: Observer
An Update For Alexa Developers: The Personalization Feature Is Now Available
Amazon is actively working on improving its voice assistant Alexa to stay in the race against competitors such as Apple’s Siri and Google’s Assistant. They added support for voice profiles over two years ago, which significantly improved Alexa’s personalization capabilities. Their more current endeavors were also related to voice profiling, except that this time they targeted skill developers. Full Story: Forbes
Best Amazon Alexa devices of 2019
Alexa is Amazon’s voice assistant, accessible via compatible Alexa smart speakers and displays. Start with the wake word “Alexa” and ask your smart speaker for the local weather forecast, to order food for delivery, to play music, to add things to your to-do list and even to adjust your smart thermostat, lights and much more. Full Story: CNET
Sony Won’t Say Whether the PlayStation 5 Will Have a Voice Assistant
Sony may very well have a voice-activated AI assistant planned for a release with the PlayStation 5, but it’s not prepared to reveal what its plans are for such a feature just yet. Based on what was seen in patents previously, this assistant would be able to help PlayStation users with their games by directing them towards in-game resources or providing answers to questions. Wired asked Sony about plans for such a feature but was met with a non-answer that said more would be discussed later. Full Story: Comicbook.com
