Google has begun rolling out Google Assistant to Android phones running 6.0 Marshmallow and higher, but could the service head to the iPhone soon?
Good news if you’re invested in the Google ecosystem; Google Assistant, the new, conversational take on Google Now that the company revealed at its 2016 I/O, is officially rolling out to Android devices running Android 6.0 Marshmallow and higher.
First offered on the Google Pixel and Pixel XL as well as the Allo messaging app, Google Assistant is now open to 32% of all Android devices, and will download as a carrier-independent update through Google Play Services.
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While the update will be available on the LG G6 right out of the box – and will similarly arrive on Android Wear 2.0 devices – the roll-out means that a large slice of the Android faithful will soon be able to use the feature.
We’re awaiting further confirmation on how available the service will be in South Africa, given that Assistant has formerly been locked to the US and is further dependent on language services.
Users will be able to activate Assistant through the same method that they could summon Google Now or Now on Tap; long-pressing their device’s Home button. Assistant sports improved contextual understanding over its predecessor, and is able to handle queries in conversation.
An interesting slice of news is that Google has seemingly implied that Assistant could soon head to the iPhone through the provision of the core Google app.
In a statement made to journalists at Mobile World Congress, Google’s product management director, Gummi Hafsteinsson, openly stated that Google’s general philosophy is to “have the Assistant available to as many people as possible.”
Given that Assistant is already present on Google’s Pixel phones, Google Home, Android TV, Android Wear and now a plethora of new Marshmallow and Nougat devices, we might be able to expect a further rollout to iOS in the near future.
Assistant is, of course, available through the iOS version of Google’s Allo messaging app. The move could ultimately mirror Microsoft’s approach with Cortana, which is available on Windows Phone, Android, and iOS in certain territories.
Read: Apple is set to join Microsoft, Google and more in a Partnership on AI
What are your thoughts? Do you look forward to being able to use Google Assistant? Be sure to let us know your opinion in the comments below!
Follow Bryan Smith on Twitter: @bryansmithSA
