Posted by Rebecca Nathenson, Director, Product Administration
As we just lately introduced at I/O, we’re investing in new methods to make Google Assistant your go-to conversational helper for on a regular basis duties. And we couldn’t do this with no wealthy neighborhood of builders. Whereas Conversational Actions have been a wonderful strategy to experiment with voice, the ecosystem has developed considerably over the past 5 years and we’ve heard some essential suggestions: customers need to interact with their favourite apps utilizing voice, and builders need to construct upon their present investments in Android.
In response to that suggestions, we’ve determined to focus our efforts on making App Actions with Android the easiest way for builders to create deeper, extra significant voice-forward experiences. In consequence, we’ll flip down Conversational Actions one 12 months from now, in June 2023.
Enhancing voice-forward experiences
Whether or not somebody asks Assistant to begin a exercise, order meals, or schedule a grocery pickup, we all know customers are on the lookout for methods to get issues accomplished extra naturally utilizing voice. To permit builders to combine these useful voice experiences into present Android content material extra simply – with out having to construct from scratch – we’re dedicated to working with them to construct App Actions with Android. It will give customers extra methods to interact with an app’s content material – like voice queries and proactive strategies – and entry the app options they already know and love.
We’re persevering with to increase the attain of App Actions within the following methods:
- Integrating voice capabilities throughout Android units akin to cellular, auto, wearables and different units within the dwelling;
- Bringing extra visitors with out extra growth work (i.e. Assistant can now direct customers to apps even when queries don’t point out an app title);
- Driving customers to the app’s Play Retailer web page in the event that they don’t have the app put in but; and
- Surfacing in ‘All Apps’ seek for Pixel 6 customers.
App Actions not solely make your apps simpler to find; you possibly can provide deeper voice experiences by permitting customers to easily ask for what they want of their queries. Furthermore, we’ll proceed investing in the entire fashionable Assistant experiences customers love, like Timers, Media, Residence Automation, Communications, and extra.
Supporting our builders
We all know that these modifications aren’t simple, which is why we’re giving builders a 12 months to arrange for the turndown of Conversational Actions. We’re right here that can assist you navigate this transition with these useful assets:
Constructing the longer term collectively
Wanting forward, we envision a platform that’s intuitive, pure, and voice-forward – and one that enables builders to leverage the whole Android ecosystem of units to allow them to simply attain extra customers. We’re at all times trying to enhance the Assistant expertise and we’re assured that App Actions is the easiest way to do this. We’re grateful for all you’ve accomplished to construct the Google Assistant ecosystem over the previous 5 years and we’re right here to assist navigate the modifications as we proceed to make it even higher. We’re enthusiastic about what lies forward and we’re grateful to construct it collectively.
