New Google Nest Hub experiment fixes voice hotword for “Hey Google”

Here’s an interesting experiment that Google is starting with smart displays: voice command input without hotwords.A video showing the details of this feature is available on YouTube Jan Boromeusz, A Nest Home hacker with a solid track record of scoring early smart display features before being announced.

Boromeus Nest Hub Max Is somehow in “dog food” mode. That is, you will receive an early private build of smart display software intended for Google internal use only. A special menu called “Dog Food Features” lists “Blue Steel” features that allow the device to respond to commands. None First you have to say the “Hey Google” hotword. Just say the command and it will respond. According to Boromeusz, the device listens for commands after “detecting the presence”, so when someone is in front of the display, it starts answering questions.

Today, Google’s voice command hardware is always listening, but only the hotword “Hey Google” is listening. If it is detected, it will start processing additional commands. Recent implementations also use hotwords as a cutoff point for connecting to the Internet. “Hey Google” detections are processed locally and everything else is uploaded, processed and stored on Google’s servers. Hotwords also serve as a form of consent, as it’s annoying not only to upload the next word to the Internet, but also to have the device constantly listen and respond to anything that could be interpreted as a command. ..