New Google Assistant now rolling out to compatible Android smartphones

Google has stuck to its promise of bringing Assistant to a wider range of devices by announcing an update for practically every Android 6.0 or Android 7.0 running device. 

The update will be sent over to devices in the U.S. first, followed by Australia, Canada, the UK as well as Germany. The company hasn’t mentioned as to when Indian smartphones will get the Assistant app on board, but the wait shouldn’t be too long. Given that there are nearly half a billion devices currently running Android Marshmallow or higher, it seems like Google has its work cut out for the widespread rollout. 

Naturally, the entire rollout will take some time, so don’t expect to find the update on your devices over the next few days. However, Google might surprise us all and send out a simultaneous update globally, which wouldn’t be a first for the company. 

For those unaware about Assistant, it’s basically an extension of Google Now which allows you to ask questions for practically any query and your answers will be displayed in a comprehensive format. Some Google apps are also capable of interacting with Assistant, with results opening directly on the app. Support for IoT devices means that you can even access your smart home appliances directly within Assistant. It’s basically the Google Now evolution we’ve all been waiting for. 

Google Assistant now comes pre-loaded on the new Nokia 3, Nokia 8 as well as the Moto G5 and the G5 Plus. LG has already announced that the G6 flagship comes with some core Android features, including Assistant. 

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