No matter if you’re using a Google Home smart speaker, a display-equipped Google Home Hub, or just an Android smartphone, Google Assistant will make your smart home smarter.
Google Assistant is everywhere, ranging from the Android smartphone in your pocket to the smart speakers and smart displays ensconced in your kitchen or living room. And that means you can control all your smart home devices without so much as turning your head.
All you need to say is “Hey Google!” What do you say after that? Well, almost anything, but here are 15 essential commands you should commit to memory.
1. GET A WEATHER REPORT
One of the simplest commands is probably also one of the most useful. As you’re getting ready to head out the door, say “Hey, Google. What’s the weather like?” You’ll get a succinct explanation of the current conditions and the forecasted conditions for later in the day.
2. READ THE NEWS
Want to know what’s going on in the world? Just ask Google Home to “read the news.” You can use the Google Home app on your smartphone to control which news sources Google uses, too. Open the Google Home app, click the Account icon at the bottom right, click Settings (under General Settings), and then Services (from the row immediately below your account name). Tap News in this list and then tap Add News Sources, which will present you with a list. Place a check next to each of the services you’d like to subscribe to, and then click the left-pointing arrow at the top of the screen. When you return to the News screen, you can arrange the order in which your news sources will report.
If you want news about a specific topic, you can say something like “Hey, Google. What’s the latest tech news?” Google Assistant will play an audio report on compatible smart speakers, or display a video on a smart display. You’ll also get a series of links to other news stories in the Google Home app (you can find them by clicking on the compass icon at the bottom of the app).
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