Google Assistant Now Provides Topical Word Suggestions

Google has gradually been improving its artificial intelligence-powered virtual assistant called Google Assistant. Just last week, it announced that users will now be able to type in their commands to Assistant if they don’t want to use voice commands. Assistant is also capable of offering users topical next-word keyboard suggestions so that they can punch in their commands quickly by relying on these suggestions.

This feature depends on the kind of keyboard being used on the Android device. Gboard users will see the suggestions line disabled entirely and Assistant’s suggestions will be shown in that place instead.

Users who have a third-party keyboard installed on their device, like Swiftkey, will see proposed next-word suggestions from Google Assistant in another line above the keyboard’s own suggestions.

Having two rows of suggestions on top of a virtual keyboard that already takes up considerable screen real estate isn’t exactly ideal implementation, therefore, those who want to take advantage of this feature will be better off with Gboard.

Next-word suggestions from Google Assistant appear to be very similar to autocompete queries that are displayed when using Google search. They vary depending on the context.

This feature is now live and accessible to all those who have an Android smartphone that’s compatible with Google Assistant.

Adnan Farooqui
Categories: Cellphones
Tags: Google, Google Assistant