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| Photo Credit: 9to5Google |
When using any wired headphones, Google Assistant will read out your updates
- Tech Backbone
A new capability has been obtained by Google Assistant that allows incoming alerts to be read aloud when using wired headphones. On all wired headphones, regardless of their USB Type-C or regular 3.5mm attachment, this functionality will work. You can get a Google Assistant prompt after plugging in your wired headphones telling you to 'Talk to your assistant on headphones.' If you give the assistant the necessary permissions, it will be able to read your messages for you out loud.
Users have been able to enable Google Assistant for quite some time with their wired and wireless headphones, but the capabilities have been minimal. As the assistant read them out some Bluetooth headphones allowed users to listen to their updates. Now on all wired headphones, Google has brought this feature. Earlier this month, 9to5Google reportedly announced that the feature is available on all wired headphones.
There should be a Google Assistant prompt when you attach your wired headphones to your phone with a USB Type-C port or a 3.5mm headphone socket. You should initiate the configuration process by pressing the notification and you will have to 'Allow your Assistant to read your notification to you The setup should be complete after granting the assistant some additional permissions. In Google Assistant settings, you can also go to the Devices list and tap Wired headphones to allow or disable Get Google Assistance.
9to5Google notes that the Google Assistant is enabled by keeping the action button on the headphones and holding down for two seconds makes the assistant note the time and then "summarise the number of alerts, and then start reading back your latest notifications." We checked this feature, however and found that with attached wired headphones, activating the Google Get Assistance option did not do any. Going back and returning to this menu would immediately disable the Get support from Google function.
