Google Assistant is getting a handy new feature that will make it easier and more natural for you to use the digital assistant. Called “Quick Phrases”, Google has started rolling out the update to phones running the latest Android 12 beta, but it’s currently unknown if Android 12 itself is required for this feature.
Quick Phrases lets you use certain phrases to summon Google Assistant without having to say the “Hey Google” trigger. With the feature enabled, Assistant will automatically be on standby when a timer or alarm goes off and you’ll be able to say “Stop” or “Snooze”. You’ll also be able to say “Answer” or “Decline” when you receive a call.
When it’s finally launched, you’ll be able to activate Quick Phrases in the Google Assistant settings. Google does warn that enabling the feature could accidentally connect your calls if Assistant hears someone else say “Answer” when a call comes in, or you say the word while your phone is on silent.
Unfortunately, these two options are the only Quick Phrases that will be available, while a much more exhaustive list of phrases will be enabled for smart devices that use Google Assistant – such as smart speakers like Google Home. The following is the full list of phrases that will eventually come to Assistant-supported smart devices, as analysed by 9to5google:
- Set alarms: “Set an alarm for 7 a.m.”
- Cancel alarms: “Cancel the alarm”
- Show alarms: “What time is my alarm set for?”
- Send broadcasts: “Send a broadcast”
- Respond to calls: “Answer” & “Decline”
- Ask about time: “What time is it?”
- Ask about weather: “What’s the weather?”
- Turn lights on & off: “Turn the lights on”
- Turn lights up & down: “Increase the brightness”
- Control volume: “Turn up the volume”
- Pause & resume music: “Pause the music”
- Skip tracks: “Skip this song”
- Set timers: “Set a timer for 2 minutes”
- Cancel timers: “Cancel the timer”
- Pause & resume timers: “Pause the timer”
- Reset timers: “Reset the timer”
- Show timers: “How much time is left?”
- Reminders: “Create a reminder”
- Family notes: “Create a family note”
Android 12, internally codenamed Snow Cone, is due for a release quite soon, given how the stable update has already been uploaded to the Android Open Source Project and the official launch of Pixel 6 being less than two weeks away. The OS update is set to unveil a bunch of new features, including new Google Assistant APIs for app shortcuts.
(Sources: XDA, 9to5google)
