Google Assistant Goes Multilingual, Can Now Understand Two Languages at Once

At IFA 2018, Google is announcing multilingual support for its Assistant, enabling it to understand and speak more than one language at a time. Furthermore, family members in bilingual homes can now speak two languages interchangeably with the Assistant on smart speakers and phones, without having to switch back and forth between languages.

If you’re looking for an answer in English, ask, “Hey Google, what’s the weather like today?” If you’re craving tunes from your favourite German hip hop band, just ask “Hey Google, spiele die Fantastischen Vier.” Currently, the Assistant can understand any pair of languages within English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese. We’ll be expanding to more languages in the coming months.

Google has also revealed it will be introducing new phones and a broad range of devices and appliances for the home that support the Assistant from its partners in Europe. Starting today, the Google Home Max is hitting the stores in Germany, UK, and France.

Later this week, Google Assistant support will be added to a bunch of new voice-activated speakers, including the Bang & Olufsen’s Beosound 1 and Beosound 2, Blaupunkt’s PVA 100, Harman Kardon’s HK Citation series, Kygo’s Speaker B9-800, Polaroid’s Sam and Buddy and Marshall Acton II and Stanmore II.

Following Google partners will also be releasing new devices that work with the Assistant throughout the home in the coming months:

• Thermostats: tado° Smart Thermostat and Smart Radiator Thermostat, Homematic IP Radiator Thermostate
• Security and Smart Home Hubs: Netatmo’s Smart Indoor and Outdoor  Security Cameras, TP-Link’s Kasa Cam KC120 and Kasa Cam Outdoor KC200, Smanos K1 SmartHome DIY Security Kit, and Somfy’ TaHoma smart home hub
• Lighting: FIBARO Switch, MEDION RGB LED bulb and stripe, and the Nanoleaf Light Panels
• Appliances: Electrolux’s smart ovens, iRobot® Roomba® 980, 896 and 676 vacuums