Google brings audio news aggregation to smart speakers, phones
The Google Assistant acts as a kind of algorithmic, news DJ.
Google Assistant
Google Assistant is both the name of a consumer-facing assistant baked into consumer products as well as a platform designed to allow the Google search engine to interact with users in a conversational manner.
Google Assistant was announced in May 2016. It first appeared integrated into Google’s communication app Allo in September 2016. In October 2016, it was made part of the Google Pixel phone. In November 2016, it was put into the Google Home device. In February 2017, it came to Android Wear watches. In March 2017, it was widely released for Android phones running Android 6 and 7.
Google plans to add Google Assistant into more products and applications, but it hasn’t said what those will be.
For more about Google Assistant, see our stories below.
CallJoy, Google’s virtual phone agent for SMBs, gets an upgrade
The service is Google's first real foray into SaaS for SMBs.
FAQ: All about the BERT algorithm in Google search
What it is, how it works and what it means for search.
A deep dive into BERT: How BERT launched a rocket into natural language understanding
Get the full backstory of the algorithm's evolution and how BERT has improved human language understanding for machines.
Google ramps up investment in wearable technology, enters deal to buy Fitbit for $2.1 billion
Fitbit-successor wearables will be Assistant-centric devices, supported by BERT.
Voice assistant study: Microsoft’s Cortana offers most answers, Google Assistant proves most accurate
Perficient Digital ran 5,000 queries on seven devices including Alexa, Cortana, Google Assistant (Home, smartphones) and Siri.
Google’s voice AI resonates in new Pixel Recorder app
Recorder identifies words, sounds, and produces a searchable transcript, even without an internet connection.
Google rolling out ‘Incognito Mode’ for Maps, activity data deletion via Assistant
These privacy controls promote trust and won't impact targeting and analytics.
Google Assistant in Chrome testing Duplex to help users buy movie tickets
The Assistant’s transaction-handling abilities take a step forward.
Google’s Assistant-everywhere strategy reminiscent of old site search playbook
Google Assistant "syndication" is a way to battle Amazon Alexa and expand its reach for later monetization.
How SEOs can master voice search now
Optimizing for voice search means answering questions in featured snippets, paying attention to local SEO and perfecting your mobile-friendliness.
What is ‘Google Screened’ and how does it differ from ‘Google Guaranteed’?
The company introduces a second screening program for professional services.
Voice assistant usage now at ‘critical mass’ as Google Assistant crowned smartest
Google Assistant scored 93%, Siri 83% and Alexa got 80% of answers right in a recent study.
Google adds playable podcasts directly in the search results
Google can hear you clearly now and surface content within your podcasts.
Google Search Console doesn’t show data for featured snippets read by Google Assistant
In the second episode of #AskGoogleWebmasters, John Mueller explained some voice search nuances in GSC.
Google swaps ‘voice search’ on Android for Google Assistant
Goodbye voice search, hello Google Assistant. The company is swapping out the familiar blue and red mic in favor of its Assistant on the home screen of Android handsets. The news was first reported by 9to5google. After seeing the report, I turned on my Pixel XL this morning and there it was. We’ve asked Google […]
Bullish forecast predicts 31 million Americans will ‘shop’ on their smart speakers in 2019
In this case, "shopping" doesn't include purchasing; however, digital goods and product re-ordering are also poised for growth.
Using structured data to create a semantically enhanced web
At SMX Advanced, speakers Cata Milos and Max Prin highlight the rise of structured data for Bing and Google – and the work being done to expand its practical use.
Is voice over-hyped? A new survey suggests lower adoption than previously thought
iPhones dominate usage, despite aggressive promotion of the Google Assistant.
Here’s the content Google aims to keep out of featured snippets
If you want to show in Google's featured snippets, be sure you're clear on the content policies for them.
Google brings the Assistant to Waze
Part of Google's Assistant everywhere strategy, Waze users will be able to 'avoid tolls' and 'report police' without touching the screen.
Google brings ‘end-to-end’ food ordering to Search, Maps, Google Assistant
This is part of a larger effort to own consumer transactions and help users "get things done" on Google.
The big picture: With multi-channel campaigns, Google aims to own the funnel
The company introduced new and expanded ad surfaces for campaigns that run across multiple channels, and Search becomes a spoke in the wheel.
Google brings personalized Shopping, local inventory and better checkout to U.S.
The redesign and new features aim to lure shoppers away from Amazon.
Google announces new ‘discovery’ ad formats, revamped Shopping experience, native placements at Google Marketing Live
The company also announced a new Google Shopping experience that aspires to be more competitive with Amazon.
I/O announcements have some applauding and others shaking their fists
Marketers continue to accuse Google of stealing their clicks.
Google now rolling out podcast results in search
Can you hear me now? Yes, Google is now showing podcast results in search.
Google Search adds support for FAQ and How-to structured data
Google now supports more structured data and adds two new enhancement reports within Google Search Console.
Google Assistant moves from the cloud to the phone, now 10X faster
The faster Assistant will be available on Pixel phones 'later this year' and could become a major competitive advantage.
Google announced updates to news in search, adds 3D support to search results and more
Breaking news from Google I/O on search related topics including Google top stories, AR and 3D objects, Google Lens, Google Assistant and Lens.
Google bringing call intelligence and automation to SMBs, for $39 per month
The virtual agent builds upon existing technology and represents a new direction in local monetization for Google.
Google takes baby steps to monetize Google Assistant, Google Home
There's a multi-faceted revenue model starting to emerge.
Searching for facts, directions, local businesses are top digital assistant use cases, says survey
Smart speaker ownership jumped from 23 percent to 45 percent of respondents since last year's survey from Microsoft.
Yoast offers revamped Schema markup with 11.0 update
The SEO plugin claims to fix Schema implementation and provide more context for search engines.
How to appear in local services listings in Google Assistant and Google Home
Company serving only pre-screened local providers in most major markets.
Just 4% of businesses ‘voice search ready,’ says analysis of nearly 75,000 companies
Are your local SEO and business listing data optimization efforts ready for voice search?
‘Rich Answers’ and search ads coming to Google Assistant
Beyond improving the experience, Google appears to be trying to harmonize Assistant and mobile search results.
Machine reservations: Google’s Duplex expanding to more Android, iPhone users
The technology appears to be ready for prime time as Google readies machine-based booking for categories beyond restaurants.
New personalized, Shopping Actions-enabled Google Shopping debuts in France
Personalized recommendations and universal checkout are front and center in the update.
SMX Overtime: The new realities of local search
SEO expert Damian Rollison offers insights into the sites that matter for local search and ranking besides Google My Business, and why you should put some time into managing all of them.