Google test function to activate Assistant without voice command on smart screen

Google is testing a feature to activate Assistant on smart screens without users having to shout a voice command. It is still unclear how it works, but it seems to involve detection of people via ultrasound.

The position was with developer Jan Boromeusz in ‘Dogfood Features’ of his Nest Hub Max. Dogfooding is the name in use for internal testing of functions before a company shows them to the outside world. The position is named Blue Steel.

Android Police is betting that it works via ultrasound or camera detection, but at least the smart screen can detect that a person is entering the room at a considerable distance. Then he activates Assistant, who then immediately starts listening. If the user does not say anything, Assistant will automatically leave. Currently, users have to shout ‘hey Google’ to activate the Assistant.

It is unknown whether Google will ever enable the feature on smart screens. Because it automatically listens when people come in, there is a chance that many users see it as an invasion of their privacy and therefore do not want to use the feature. Last year, Google was one of the companies that came under fire when it turned out that people occasionally eavesdrop on voice commands or accidentally recorded clips to improve voice assistants.