Google is altering the Google Assistant, eradicating and altering dozens of options that a few of you will have turn out to be accustomed to. Google mentioned these modifications are aimed to “deal with high quality and reliability,” including it can “in the end make it simpler to make use of Assistant throughout units,” the corporate wrote.
With these modifications, Google additionally has laid off tons of of staff who labored on Google Assistant. It makes you marvel if AI would be the future and overtake Google Assistant. Though we all know Bard is coming to the Google Assistant.
The modifications. Here’s a listing of modifications coming to the Google Assistant beginning on January 26:
- Enjoying and controlling audiobooks on Google Play Books together with your voice. You’ll be able to nonetheless solid audiobooks out of your cell system.
- Setting or utilizing media alarms, music alarms, or radio alarms on Google Assistant enabled units. You’ll be able to create a customized Routine that has comparable habits or use a regular alarm.
- Accessing or managing your cookbook, transfering recipes from system to system, enjoying an educational recipe video, or exhibiting step-by-step recipes. You need to use Google Assistant to seek for recipes throughout the online and YouTube.
- Managing a stopwatch on Sensible Shows and Audio system. You’ll be able to nonetheless set timers and alarms.
- Utilizing your voice to name a tool or broadcast a message to your Google Household Group. You’ll be able to nonetheless broadcast to units in your house.
- Utilizing your voice to ship an electronic mail, video or audio message. You’ll be able to nonetheless make calls and ship textual content messages.
- Rescheduling an occasion in Google Calendar together with your voice. You’ll be able to nonetheless schedule a brand new occasion.
- Utilizing App Launcher in Google Assistant driving mode on Google Maps to learn and ship messages, make calls, and management media. You’ll be able to nonetheless use voice management on Google Maps the identical method.
- Asking to schedule or hear beforehand scheduled Household Bell bulletins. You’ll be able to create a customized Routine that has comparable habits.
- Asking to meditate with Calm. You’ll be able to nonetheless ask for meditation choices with media suppliers comparable to YouTube.
- Voice management for actions will now not be obtainable on Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 units. You’ll want to make use of the buttons in your system to begin, cease, pause, and resume actions. You’ll be able to nonetheless voice management actions on Pixel Watches.
- Viewing your sleep summaries will solely be obtainable on Google Sensible Shows. You’ll be able to nonetheless ask for sleep particulars by voice on third-party good clocks.
- Calls made out of audio system and Sensible Shows is not going to present up with a caller ID until you’re utilizing Duo.
- Viewing the ambient “Commute to Work” time estimates on Sensible Shows. You’ll be able to nonetheless ask for commute occasions and get instructions by voice.
- Checking private journey itineraries by voice. You’ll be able to nonetheless ask for flight standing.
- Asking for details about your contacts. You’ll be able to nonetheless make calls to your contacts.
- Asking to take sure actions by voice, comparable to ship a fee, make a reservation, or submit to social media. You’ll be able to nonetheless ask Assistant to open your put in apps.
There are additionally modifications coming to the Google App, they embody:
- Microphone icon will set off Google Search outcomes as a substitute of the Assistant
- Saying “Hey Google” or lengthy urgent the house or energy button on Android telephones or opening the Google Assistant app on iOS will nonetheless work
- The microphone button within the Pixel Search bar will activate Google voice search, not the Assistant
Layoffs. With these modifications, Google has laid off tons of of staff engaged on Google Assistant. Google mentioned it’s proscribing the corporate from integrating new AI applied sciences. The layoffs affect Google staff working in core engineering, units, and companies, these engaged on Pixel, Fitbit, Nest, and, after all, the Google Assistant.
Why we care. It does look like this may be a win for core search, however everyone knows that extra AI applied sciences and options loom sooner or later. How will these new applied sciences affect Google Search? Will it’s new Google Search Generative Expertise or one thing else.
Dangle tight, 2024 can be an fascinating yr in Search.