It looks like Google may introduce voice keyboard shortcuts functionality that will allow you to respond to certain events without uttering the "Hey Google" command.
Google reportedly intends to expand its interaction with Google Assistant without having to use the "Hey Google" voice command. The feature, codenamed "Guacamole", is said to allow it to respond to events without a command, such as answering calls and waking alarms. The question is, how far can this functionality be extended?
Now 9To5Google and Android Police are reporting that similar functionality appears to appear in a Google Assistant smartphone called Voice Shortcuts. This feature was first mentioned in version 12.8 of the Google app last month and has now appeared in the beta app's settings. It allows users to "skip the phrase" Hey Google "for help with quick tasks." This includes the words "stop" or "snooze" in response to an alarm and "answer" or "reject" in response to an incoming call.
Does the "Hey Google" Assistant even need to be?
The reason this functionality might work is for context. With an alarm or an incoming call, the Assistant knows that the appropriate response is likely to be directed at him and not at another person in the room. This is in much the same way that the Nest Hub Max's smart display thinks that a recognized command spoken by the person in front of it is most likely meant for him.
With that in mind, it's possible that Google Assistant - or any other personal assistant - could theoretically work almost entirely in the future without the need for waking up. For example, Google Assistant on a smartphone can recognize, based on accelerometer data, that the device has been picked up, determine in what tone a person usually speaks to Assistant, and recognize the spoken command. Thus, several factors can determine that the user is accessing the Assistant and not another person.
Of course, whether Google or its users want to go this route is another matter. Plus, it will undoubtedly require a lot of work and fine tuning. However, in the future, "Hey Google" commands for Assistant may become a thing of the past.
