Here’s how Google is improving the Assistant on Smart Displays

Google just held its Google Assistant Developer day, where it unveiled deeper integration of the Assistant with Android apps. Instead of simply asking the Assistant to open apps, you can ask it to perform specific actions within those apps, like logging food in MyFitnessPal or starting a run with Nike Run Club.

But beyond developing the Assistant on your smartphone, Google is looking to improve it across all aspects of your life. The Assistant doesn’t just live on your phone — it now lives in your Chromecast, smart display, and more. And now that Google offers so many ways to access the assistant on smart displays, it’s time it got an update there, too.

Improved voices

Google has been building a new voice model for the Google Assistant, which is meant to help it sound more natural. Today, it is unveiling two new voices based on that model. Developers can use the new voices by changing the model in the Actions console.

Here’s an example of what the new voice model sounds like.

Trusted voices for payments

Because the Google Assistant is starting to appear on every screen, it would be nice if you could pay for things directly from a smart display. Today, Google is announcing the ability to pay for something using only your voice.

The Assistant knows whether or not you are really you based on your voice, so you’ll be able to make a payment just by asking. And early next year, Google will be introducing on-display CVC entry in case you want to require it for payment authorization.

There are a lot of other cool new features coming out of Google Assistant Developer Day today, so stay tuned for more news as it comes.

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