What Voice app does Android use?
Android phones come with a built-in voice assistant app called Google Assistant. Google Assistant allows users to complete tasks, get information, and control their devices using just their voice (Source). Google Assistant is one of the most widely used voice assistants, with over 85 million monthly active users in the U.S. alone as of 2022 (Source). Other popular voice assistants on mobile devices include Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa, Microsoft’s Cortana, and Samsung’s Bixby. Voice assistants provide hands-free control, time savings, and accessibility benefits on Android devices. They allow users to get directions, set reminders, play music, and more through natural speech. The voice assistant market continues to grow, with projection models estimating over 35% of all smart speaker sales will include built-in voice assistants by 2030 (Source).
Google Assistant
Google Assistant is the default voice assistant that comes pre-installed on Android phones from Google. It was first released in 2016 as part of Google’s artificial intelligence initiative, and has grown into one of the most widely used voice assistants today. Some key features and capabilities of Google Assistant include:
– Voice commands – Users can speak to Google Assistant to get information, complete tasks, set reminders and alarms, control smart home devices, and more. Common voice commands include “Ok Google” or “Hey Google.”
– Natural conversations – Google Assistant can understand natural language and context to have natural back-and-forth conversations. Users don’t have to memorize exact phrases.
– Smart home control – Google Assistant can be used to control thousands of compatible smart home devices and IoT gadgets like lights, thermostats, locks, and more. This allows for voice control of the home.
– Media playback – You can ask Google Assistant to play music, podcasts, audiobooks, radio stations, and more from services like YouTube Music, Spotify, Pandora, and Google Play Music. Easy hands-free listening.
– Web search – Just like the Google search engine, Google Assistant can find web pages, images, videos, and other online content by voice query. Great for hands-free research.
– Reminders and alarms – Google Assistant allows users to set reminders, alarms, timers, and calendar events using natural language. Useful for staying organized.
Accessing Google Assistant
The most common way to access Google Assistant on Android devices is by using the voice activation phrase “OK Google.” Users can say “OK Google” from any screen to launch the assistant and issue voice commands or queries (Source). The device must have the microphone enabled for this hands-free activation method.
Another way to quickly launch Google Assistant is by long pressing the home button on Android devices that have a physical home button. This will activate listening mode without having to say “OK Google” first (Source).
Some Android devices also have a dedicated Google Assistant or AI button to instantly trigger the assistant. Pressing and holding this hardware button will activate Google Assistant (Source). This provides a convenient way to access the assistant without using voice commands.
Google Assistant Settings
Google Assistant can be customized in various ways to adjust the voice, languages, devices, services, and privacy settings. According to an article on GadgetGuideOnline, users can access Google Assistant settings by going to the Google Home app and tapping “More” in the device settings page.
Some key settings include:
- Voice – Choose between male or female voices for Google Assistant.
- Languages – Set the default language, as well as secondary languages.
- Devices – Manage connections with smart home devices, displays, and more.
- Services – Connect accounts like Google Calendar, Gmail, Spotify, etc.
- Privacy settings – Control how Assistant uses and saves recordings.
Customizing these options allows users to tailor Google Assistant to their preferences. As explained in a Geeky Gadgets article, adjusting the voice, connected services and devices can optimize Assistant for each user’s needs. Tweaking privacy settings also gives users more control over their data.
Google Assistant Integrations
Google Assistant integrates with a wide variety of apps, services, and devices. Some of the key integrations include:
- Smart home devices – Google Assistant can control over 30,000 smart home devices including lights, thermostats, locks, cameras and more from top brands like Nest, Philips Hue, August, Arlo and others (https://www.appbrain.com/list/smart-home-apps-google-alexa-2023).
- Media and entertainment – Stream music, radio, podcasts and more using apps like Spotify, Pandora, TuneIn, iHeartRadio. Control TVs and media players with Chromecast built-in.
- Productivity – Integrate calendar, email, notes and more using apps like Google Calendar, Gmail, Any.do, Todoist.
- Travel – Get flight updates, book rides and hotels, translate languages using apps like TripIt, Kayak, Lyft, Airbnb.
- Communication – Make calls, send messages via apps like Google Voice, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger.
In 2017, Google launched the Assistant App Directory to showcase apps that work with Google Assistant and make discovery easier for users (https://www.slashgear.com/google-assistant-app-directory-io-2017-17485468/). Today there are over 1,500 apps in the directory across a variety of categories.
Other Voice Assistants
Google Assistant is the default voice assistant on many Android devices, but it’s not the only option available. Other popular voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Samsung Bixby, and Microsoft Cortana can also be used on Android phones.
Amazon Alexa can be accessed on Android through the Alexa app. Once enabled, Alexa can provide news updates, control smart home devices, set timers and alarms, play music, and more. According to Android Authority, Alexa provides a robust voice assistant experience similar to Google Assistant.
Samsung Bixby comes pre-installed on newer Samsung Galaxy devices. Bixby allows users to access device functions via voice and personalize the experience. However, Bixby has a smaller range of capabilities compared to Google Assistant and Alexa. Bixby can open apps, set reminders, make calls, send texts, and adjust some device settings.
Microsoft Cortana was previously available as a standalone app on Android, but Microsoft discontinued Cortana support on mobile devices in 2021. Cortana voice assistant is no longer accessible on Android phones, only on Windows PCs.
Changing Default Assistant
While Google Assistant is the default voice assistant on Android, there are ways to change to a different assistant if desired. Here are the steps to change your default assistant on Android:
First, you’ll need to download the voice assistant app you want to use, such as Amazon Alexa or Samsung Bixby. Open the app and follow any setup instructions.
Then, go to your device’s Settings app and select Apps or Application Manager. Find the app for your current default assistant, likely the Google app. Tap it and select Disable or Force Stop.
Next, go back to Settings and search for “Assist app.” Select the assistant app you want to use as the new default. This will now become the assistant activated when you hold down your home button or say “Okay Google.”
You can toggle between different assistants this way. Just remember to enable one and disable the other in the Settings to switch the default. While Google Assistant comes integrated with Android, you have options to change assistants if desired for certain use cases.
Sources:
https://support.google.com/assistant/answer/7394306?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid
https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/7550431?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid
Assistant Comparison
When it comes to choosing a voice assistant for your Android device, three main options stand out: Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung Bixby. Here’s an overview of the pros and cons of each:
Google Assistant is considered the most full-featured and capable assistant for Android devices. It offers fast and accurate voice recognition, deep integration with Android and Google services, and robust AI capabilities. However, it requires sharing data with Google and works best for those invested in the Google ecosystem. [1]
Amazon Alexa offers excellent voice recognition and a vast array of skills. It works across many different devices and platforms. But it has less tight integration with core Android features compared to the Google Assistant. There are also some privacy concerns around Amazon data collection. [2]
Bixby is Samsung’s proprietary assistant designed for their Galaxy devices. It offers deep integration with Samsung apps and services. However, its voice recognition and capabilities lag behind Google Assistant and Alexa. It also only works on Samsung devices. [3]
Future of Android Assistants
The future looks bright for Android voice assistants like Google Assistant. With advancements in artificial intelligence, Google is working on making Assistant even smarter and more natural to talk to. Some emerging capabilities and improvements we may see in the future include:
According to this article, Google is focused on making Assistant handle more complex requests and multi-step tasks. It is leveraging newer AI models like LaMDA to have more natural conversations.
As mentioned in this blog, Google Assistant may become capable of not just answering factual questions, but providing thoughtful advice by understanding context and emotions.
There is also a possibility of Google Assistant becoming multilingual and understanding different accents better using advances in speech recognition.
Overall, Android users can expect their voice assistants like Google Assistant to keep getting smarter and more natural to converse with thanks to progress in AI and machine learning.
Conclusion
Android phones have access to a variety of intelligent voice assistants that can help you get things done quickly and hands-free. The default voice assistant on most Android devices is Google Assistant, which can schedule meetings, set reminders, answer questions, play music, and control smart home devices.
Google Assistant is already built into Android phones and can be accessed by voice or typing. The settings allow you to customize how sensitive it is to the “Ok Google” activation phrase and which Google account it is linked to. Google Assistant integrates well across Google’s ecosystem of products and services.
Other options like Bixby, Alexa, and Cortana are available to install and set as the default if desired. Each has their own strengths and integrations. With robust voice recognition and natural language processing, these assistants aim to understand requests and provide relevant help or information.
The choice comes down to personal preference and which ecosystem of devices and services you primarily use. Over time, expect the accuracy and capabilities of Android’s voice assistants to continue improving thanks to advances in artificial intelligence.