The Google development team announced a major update and expansion of the capabilities of the digital assistant, Assistant, available for mobile platforms Android and iOS.
Google Assistant was first introduced by the company in May 2016, and in July 2018, the service gained support for the Russian language. In addition to answering search queries and setting reminders, the assistant allows users to make calls, send messages, stay updated with the news, listen to music, report the weather, find the best restaurants and stores, translate words and entire phrases, map routes, and handle various daily tasks. Currently, Google Assistant is available on over a billion devices worldwide.
The updated Google Assistant features an improved interface and a refined voice engine that articulates phrases more realistically and knows almost all homographs (words that are spelled the same but differ in pronunciation, such as за́мок and замо́к). The set of applications integrated with the assistant has been significantly expanded: now through the voice assistant, users can learn about services and products from Sberbank, enable personalized audio stories for children from Agushi and PepsiCo, calculate the cost of travel insurance from the Soglasie company, study English with the Skyeng school, and perform many other actions.
Among other new features, Google Assistant includes sending voice messages through WhatsApp and Viber, as well as the ability to make online purchases and pay for digital services integrated with the voice assistant. Additionally, the service has learned to read haikus, compliment users, and recount memorable historical events from particular days.
To activate the voice assistant on Android, simply say the usual phrase 'Okay, Google' or long-press the home button. To use it on iOS, you will need to download the app from the App Store. More information about the Google mobile assistant can be found on the website assistant.google.com.
Source: 3dnews.ru
