Google is expanding the reach of its voice-based Assistant, announcing support for third-party speakers that are coming later in the year. The tech giant has also announced new a partnership with LG, that will allow owners to bark orders at its Wi-Fi connected household appliances, or simply check in on a wash cycle.
Google is making a real effort to drive Assistant into more and more homes. Earlier this year, it rolled out Assistant to all recent Android phones, following the launch of the voice-controlled Google Home unit last year. These days, it also works with some iOS devices and Android Wear.
But bringing it to third party speakers is new territory for Google. Those that will work with Assistant include the Panasonic's GA10, Anker's Zolo Mojo, TicHome Mini from Chinese smartwatch-maker Mobvoi and Sony's LF-S50G. These smart speakers are due to be released later in the year, and Google says most will be available in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Germany and France.
This means that owners of those speakers will be able to talk to the devices and have Google Assistant answer queries and control their smart home. You know, things like "OK Google, turn down the lights" and "OK Google, where is the Eiffel Tower?".
Meanwhile, Google's new partnership with LG will see all of its smart home devices become compatible with Google Assistant, either through Google Home or a capable smartphone. This could mean telling the refrigerator to create more ice, the dryer to change its temperature mid-cycle or an air conditioner to switch on in another room.
Google is at IFA in Berlin this week, and says that more products with Google Assistant support will be revealed in the coming days.
