Google will expand the usefulness of voice commands beyond Android phones

Google has helped app creators do it better use of Assistant voice commands over time, but its longstanding Conversational Actions framework for those commands has had its limits. It’s primarily intended for regular Android mobile devices and uses only voice – the technology won’t help much your smart watchor when you need some screen interaction. However, the company is taking steps to make voice control more useful across all of its platforms. It is extending the App Actions framework to be more useful to the entire Android ecosystem and phasing out the legacy system in the process.

The company is in the process of integrating App Actions across all Android-based platforms, including automotive and wearable platforms. Assistant can now point you to relevant apps for a given command even if you don’t mention the app name or when you’re searching for the right software in “All Apps” on Pixel 6. And if you don’t have the required app for a command, you’ll be taken to the appropriate Play Store page. Of course, these will help developers by driving demand for their apps, but they will also help you focus on getting the task done rather than crafting the exact phrase you need.

Developers will have a strong incentive to embrace newer technology. is Google sunset Conversational Actions in June 2023, and there are plans to “turn off” features like dashboard analytics at that time. Another year gives app makers time to learn App Actions and otherwise transition away from the previous approach.

You may have seen this change coming. Chat Actions were introduced 5 years ago, only added by App Actions (in initial limited form) in 2019 – Google has been preparing itself for a rollover like this for a while now . And with Google committed to expanding platforms like Android Auto and Bring the operating systemThe upgraded voice function is much more important to the company.