The Google Assistant is one of the most advanced virtual personal assistants available. Although the quality of the assistant is nearly unmatched, it can be made even better by utilizing a Google Assistant shortcut or two. The Google Assistant can be found on newer Google or Android phones and TVs, the Google Home, and numerous smart watches that utilize Android Wear. Each type of device ranges slightly in what the Google Assistant can do for its user. For instance, a wearer of an Android wear enabled smart watch could say, “Okay Google, track my workout.” An Android TV user could say, “Play a horror movie.” Unfortunately, specific shortcuts can only be set up on the Google Home and Android phones Marshmallow 6.0 and newer. We’ll give instructions on how to setup a shortcut and some suggestions of what shortcuts to take.
Google Assistant Shortcut
Setting up a Google Assistant shortcut is a helpful tool for minimizing the amount of time a user needs to interact with the assistant. For instance, instead of saying, “Google, play The Rolling Stones station on Pandora in the living room” a shortcut can be designed so the user simply has to say, “Google, play the Rolling Stones.” The best part is that the shortcuts are completely customizable by the user, although the correct wording needs to be used for the shortcut to work.
Users need to reach the menu where a Google Assistant shortcut can be setup. On an Android phone, hold down the Home button (open the Google Assistant app on an iPhone), and then tap the blue circle menu button on the top-left corner. Tap the three-dot menu on the top right, press settings, and then press Shortcuts on the bottom of the menu. In the Google Home app, press the three horizontal bars to open up the settings menu. Next press More Settings, and then scroll down and press Shortcuts. Once the shortcuts menu is open, there are multiple options for creating shortcuts.
All The Google Assistant Shortcuts
There are numerous shortcuts that can be setup, although it should be noted that users are only limited to 5 shortcuts. A Google Assistant shortcut needs to be relatively straightforward so Google can understand how to execute the command. On the shortcut menu, type in a command to fill in the line “When I say Ok Google….” and then (optionally) another command, “Or when I say Ok Google…” Then fill in the line to tell Google what to do, “Google Assistant should do…”
Here are some suggestions on which shortcuts to make:
When I say Ok Google… Workout Time
Google Assistant should do… Play workout music on Google Play Music
When I say Ok Google… Late again
Google Assistant should do… Send a text to Annie running 5 minutes late again
When I say Ok Google…Stock update
Or When I saw Ok Google… morning report
Google Assistant should do … Talk to CNBC about the markets
When I say Ok Google…cheer me up
Or When I saw Ok Google… I’m sad
Google Assistant should do … play cat videos on Youtube.
There are nearly unlimited combinations of commands and responses for the Google Assistant to carry out. However, if using a command that has not already been proven to work, a user might have to go through some trial and error. Try to set up the command in the shortcut menu and then test it out on the phone or Google Home. Modifications can be made to ensure the Google Assistant shortcut actually works. Also, users can have some fun with the shortcuts and make the initial command irrelevant to the actual action carried out. For instance a user could make the following shortcut: “When I say Ok Google…walk the dog; Google Assistant should do…play my The Black Keys playlist on Spotify in the living room.” Just make sure you remember what to say in order for the shortcut to work.