Google is preparing for a big week at their developer conference next week, and it seems Assistant will be a big part of it. Today, Google has announced some improved stats for smart home device compatibility with Assistant as well as better integration for some devices.

Starting at the top, Google has announced that Google Assistant can now connect with more than 5,000 devices around the home, a more than three-fold increase from the 1,500 it could connect with in January.

It’s a bittersweet announcement, with Michele Turner, Director, Smart Home Ecosystem saying that this covers ‘all types of connected devices, and now every major device brand works with the Assistant in the U.S’ – so we’re still lacking some compatibility here outside the US.

Google is working hard to improve compatibility for existing devices as well. Starting with Logitech Harmony hub-based remotes which will now become a first party Google Assistant partner – no more ‘Ok Google, Ask Logitech to ….’, you’ll simply say ‘Ok Google, turn on the Amplifier’ or any number of commands and the Harmony Hub will do it.

While we’re not really getting smart Security Systems here in Australia as yet, when they do start arriving Google Assistant will be ready to power a host of them including systems from ADT, First Alert, Vivint Smart Home and of course the Nest Hello Doorbell. Smart door locks from August and Schlage, and home security cameras from Panasonic will also work with Assistant.

Google and there partners will also be adding new functions for a range of devices including ‘ADT lights and thermostat, Xiaomi lights, Hunter Douglas window treatments, Hisense’s H9E Plus and H9100E Plus TVs, Portable AC and Dehumidifiers, Arlo security cameras, and new LG appliances, which include everything from air purifiers to TVs’.

It’s going to be a big week next week at Google I/O, and we’ve got everything crossed that we’ll see a lot more international announcements so stay tuned for what’s coming up.

Source: Google.

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    Craig Mitchell

    You could already do this with Home Shortcuts. However, it’s great that these will no longer be required.

    I wonder if the voice response will improve too. So, instead of it saying “Asking Harmony …”, it will just say “Turning on Amplifier”.