Google Assistant can now use a Sonos speaker as its default hardware. Sonos hardware received updates this week that will allow those devices to be the primary player for requests of the voice assistant. Continue Reading
Google Assistant has been updated with several quality of life improvements. In addition to new voice commands for retrieving and sharing photos, and for updating notes and lists, the platform now offers topical search for podcasts. We tested it. Continue Reading
Google Assistant has been updated with a new news feature for listeners. The voice assistant is adding a tailored playlist of news stories called Your News Update. It can be started by asking Google to play the news. Continue Reading
Sirius XM announced that its programming will be adding support for Google Assistant. The company said its audio content will begin rolling out on Google Nest smart speakers and displays over the next week. Continue Reading
Google has introduced a new tool for transitioning media from one smart device to another. Its stream transfer feature can transition music, videos, and podcasts between compatible devices. Continue Reading
Google announced new privacy policies around how it handles recordings made with its voice AI platform. Under the new default for Google Assistant, the company will not retain user recordings. Customers can opt into Google’s Voice & Audio Activity program when they set up the AI. Continue Reading
Google is testing out a new effort to bring its voice assistant to cellphones without internet access. The India pilot program offers a 24/7 phone number that people can call to pose their questions to Google Assistant. Continue Reading
Human review of voice assistant recordings has been a fiery topic of late, and actions are already being taken to improve privacy for their users. Apple announced that it will globally suspend its grading program, while Google has stopped the practice in Europe. Continue Reading
The capabilities of voice assistants have been expanding at a rapid rate as developers continue to work with new partners and test the limits of what information the AI can provide. The latest news development is beginning at a small scale, but points to a much broader use case in the future. Continue Reading
Sonos has made good on one of the announcements in its latest quarterly shareholder letter. The company is beginning to roll out a software update that will bring support for the Google Assistant voice AI to its smart speakers. Continue Reading
Sonos has released its second-quarter results with a new shareholder letter. The results included strong performances for a few of Sonos’ notable voice-activated wireless speakers. The other notable announcement from Sonos was its plans to begin rolling out support for Google Assistant this week. Continue Reading
Google Assistant is broadening support for listening on YouTube. The free, ad-supported tier of YouTube Music can now be requested from any device running the voice platform, including the Google Home smart speaker line. Continue Reading