Google has announced its Assistant can now act as an intercom for your voice-connected speakers like Google Home:
Starting today, you can broadcast your voice from your Assistant on your phone or voice-activated speaker, like Google Home. So when you need to round up the family in the morning, just say “Ok Google, broadcast it’s time for school!” and your message will broadcast to all Assistant enabled speakers in your home.
The company says for everyday announcements like waking up, dinner or getting ready for bed, Assistant can send a playful message for you. Google gives the example of saying “Ok Google, broadcast it’s dinner time” and a dinner bell will sound on Google Home speakers, so you won’t have to “wear out your voice shouting up the stairs.”
Google says you can also use the feature to have Assistant broadcast to your speakers when you’re not at home. For example, if you’re leaving work, you can say “Ok Google, broadcast I’m on my way home!” from your smartphone, and the message will be sent to your Google Home speakers at home.
Google says you will require at least two or more Google Home devices (any combination of Google Home or Home Mini) on the same Wi-Fi network, do not disturb disabled, at least one member of the house signed into each of these Google Home devices and firmware version 1.26.93937 or higher.
This new broadcasting feature is rolling out today on Assistant on phones and speakers set to English in Canada, along with the U.S., Australia and the U.K., with support for more languages “coming soon.”
Let us know if you’re going to try this, or stick to text messaging your family for announcements (what a sad but convenient time we live in!).
