LG Electronics USA announced today that the Google Assistant is now available on its 2018 AI-enabled TV line-up. This includes both LG OLED TVs and LG SUPER UHD LED/LCD TVs which include the company's "ThinQ AI" feature. Google Assistant support, first announced at CES 2018, uses the TVs' existing remote with its built-in microphone to access the Google Assistant. No hardwarre update is required and there is no additional fee for the software update.
The Google Assistant expands on the LG TV's voice command capabilities by allowing LG TV owners to control TV operations, discover and access content from a variety of sources and incorporate the power of Google Search right in your TV. This is much more powerful than simple voice commands like "channel up" or "volume down." With Google Assistant on LG TVs, you can ask your TV questions in natural language, and it will answer you or take the appropriate actions. You can say things like, "Do I need a jacket in Beijing?" or "Who's in this movie?" or "What the hell is Trump tweeting about now?" and the TV will answer. To the extent that those questions can be answered, of course.
Google Assistant also integrates with Google's smart home automation platform, so you can control or check the status of compatible devices such as home security systems, robotic vacuums, thermostats, smart lighting and more. The Google Assistant currently works with more than 5,000 smart devices across hundreds of brands. LG says that they are "collaborating with Google to develop a wide range of features, and are working to expand consumer accessibility in multiple languages." To access Google Assistant, owners need only press and hold the mic button on LG's Smart TV remote and speak the command or question into the remote.
"With the Google Assistant now available natively in 2018 LG AI TVs, LG has truly elevated the TV to a whole new level of AI adoption in the home," said Tim Alessi, head of home entertainment product marketing at LG Electronics USA. "Beyond the unrivaled picture quality that LG TVs deliver, LG's partnership with Google creates a true visual hub for information and connectivity in the home. LG has only begun to scratch the surface of what we will innovate in the AI ecosystem working collaboratively with cutting-edge, industry leading partners such as Google."
Alexa was unavailable for comment.
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