Google Rumored to Launch Standalone 'Google Assistant' App on iOS With Chat and Voice Controls

[MacRumors]

Google is planning to launch its smart AI helper Google Assistant on iOS sometime "soon" as its own standalone app, according to sources speaking to Android Police. The rumor is swirling ahead of Google's annual I/O Conference, which will run this week from May 17 to May 19 in California.

According to the sources, the specifics of Google's plans for Assistant on iOS remain unclear as of now, but the app is predicted to combine the chatbot-like features of Google Allo with voice controls found on Android smartphones.

More solid details about the Google Assistant iOS app point towards a United States-only launch, and an official announcement coming "in fairly short order."

According to a trusted source, Google plans to announce that the Google Assistant will be launching on iOS soon as a standalone app. The announcement could come as soon as Google's I/O conference this week, but it's unclear exactly what Google's plans are at this time. The app would likely feature a blend of the "chat" style functionality in the Google Allo version of Assistant and the voice-controlled version found on Android, but again, details are scant.

We do know that the Assistant for iOS will only be available in the US at launch, and that Google plans to make the announcement in fairly short order. I/O would be a pretty ideal venue for such a launch, as Assistant's SDK was just made available to developers late last month. Bringing the Assistant to the world's second-largest mobile OS would likely encourage more developers to integrate with the app's functionality.

Microsoft has launched its own smart assistant Cortana on iOS in the past, allowing more users to gain access to the assistant than if it remained exclusive to the company's own devices. If Google Assistant does come to iPhone and iPad, it'll mark a continued expansion of the AI, after Google first launched Assistant on Pixel devices, Google Home, the Google Allo app, and then expanded to Android smartphones.

Article Link: Google Rumored to Launch Standalone 'Google Assistant' App on iOS With Chat and Voice Controls

 

[Tapiture]

Cool. Google Assistant is better than Siri I think.

 

[rudychidiac]

I would use this over Siri cause Google understands my accent better.

 

[nabeel24]

If only "Ok Google" worked like the "Hey Siri" functionality

 

[Mrjoedot]

Like it's working any well

 

[yanksfan114]

I don't really see the appeal for other companies to make an app with their AI assistant. Part of the reason voice assistants are supposed to help is by being convenient. Siri can be summoned with just a button or your voice. If I have to unlock my phone and go to the app then it loses all the appeal no matter how much more advanced it is. At that point I might as well just go to safari and google whatever I need to know or look up.

 

[edgonzalez32]

Would be amazing to see the Jailbreak community take this and integrate it into the OS. But I can't even begin to imagine what that would entail. I honestly want to give Android a try. And their AI is big reason why.

 

[avanpelt]

Unless Apple relaxes the restrictions on third-party voice-activated assistants in iOS 11, I don't see this being useful. I've had the "Google Search" app on my phone for a year or more. I vastly prefer Google's assistant over Siri.

However, I just deleted the app within the last week. Despite its novelty for the first few weeks I had it installed, I find that I seldom used it because it was not easily accessible (i.e. voice activated without being in the app or activated by holding down the home button). Siri is too stupid to answer my questions most of the time so I don't even try to use her for the most part. More often than not, I simply do a Google search the "old fashioned" way -- typing it in.

 

[Zirel]

Awesome!

Now maybe the fanboys can stop talking about it on Android like it's the second coming of Christ or that it cures cancer or something...

 

[avanpelt]

I don't really see the appeal for other companies to make an app with their AI assistant. Part of the reason voice assistants are supposed to help is by being convenient. Siri can be summoned with just a button or your voice. If I have to unlock my phone and go to the app then it loses all the appeal no matter how much more advanced it is. At that point I might as well just go to safari and google whatever I need to know or look up.

Yep, Apple has a lock on convenience but they're make us trade useful functionality in exchange for convenience. Case and point: Siri, Apple Maps, and just about anything else that Apple has a default app for that cannot be changed by the user.

I really hope iOS 11 is the OS that finally gives users choice when it comes to setting default applications for certain things. However, I doubt that Apple will allow third-party voice assistants to be used in place of Siri.

 

[44267547]

Cool. Google Assistant is better than Siri I think.

Google assistant has its advantages. I do like how user-friendly it is and most times it's fairly accurate. In comparison to Siri, we all know how the results vary based on that. I would say Siri is more inconsistent then Google assistant is.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

This could be a huge benefit to Apple. All Apple has to do is allow customizable home screens, and loosen a few restrictions. Then the Premium iPhone with OLED display, wireless charging, and etc, would close the gap by a good amount from flagship Android phones.

 

[69Mustang]

Yep, Apple has a lock on convenience but they're make us trade useful functionality in exchange for convenience. Case and point: Siri, Apple Maps, and just about anything else that Apple has a default app for that cannot be changed by the user.

I really hope iOS 11 is the OS that finally gives users choice when it comes to setting default applications for certain things. However, I doubt that Apple will allow third-party voice assistants to be used in place of Siri.

The lack of user choice in default apps is the #1 reason I've yet to choose an iPhone when upgrading my phone. #2 is lack of customization. I was going to get my wife's 6S (upgraded to an S8) and JB it just to play around, but my oldest child decided to take it and hand down her 6 to my youngest. She's (11 yo) the only one with 2 phones, the 6 and a J7. She loves Facetiming with friends now, but daily drives her J7. She's a Jr Techie and can't give up the freedom of her Launchers and widgets. If iOS 11 gives that additional freedom of default app choice, I might pick up a 6S+ for the low.

 

[macTW]

So basically, android users who hesitate to move to Apple because of Siri now have the freedom to continue to use their comforted system on iPhone.

 

[benroberts3]

Very happy to see this. I currently have a Google Home and love how intelligent and easy it is to use. I'm sure Google will somehow integrate the iOS version with Google Home as they do with Android currently.

Frankly the Google Search app has gone downhill in terms of usefulness and functionality. The voice search feature always has some sort of bug and makes the app not as useful as one would hope.

 

[MH01]

Awesome!

Now maybe the fanboys can stop talking about it on Android like it's the second coming of Christ or that it cures cancer or something...

lol the irony of this comment. Glass house , stone..... meet pitcher
[doublepost=1494877952][/doublepost]AI voice apps are never gonna have the same fluid experience of the intergrated AI. Without "ok google" using Siri will still be a better experience

 

[Mtmspa]

Yet another google product I will never use.

 

[WRChris]

Google assistant has its advantages. I do like how user-friendly it is and most times it's fairly accurate. In comparison to Siri, we all know how the results vary based on that. I would say Siri is more inconsistent then Google assistant is.

I still think it's insane when I see people talking to their phones and not on their phone. There's literally nothing voice assistants can do that can't be done with less than 5 taps. Having said that, yes ok google is smarter than Siri but still not as smart as my fingers can be.

 

[sudo1996]

I still think it's insane when I see people talking to their phones and not on their phone. There's literally nothing voice assistants can do that can't be done with less than 5 taps. Having said that, yes ok google is smarter than Siri but still not as smart as my fingers can be.

Not true. Actually, the ONLY way to delete all your alarms at once is to tell Siri to do it. And at some point, the only way to play all songs (not just a playlist) was to kill the Music app then tell Siri to play music.

Besides that, I find myself using Siri to ask for directions since that takes a lot more taps, especially now that Apple ****ed up the keyboard and made it lag in iOS 9.
[doublepost=1494911267][/doublepost]

So basically, android users who hesitate to move to Apple because of Siri now have the freedom to continue to use their comforted system on iPhone.

No, because they have to open an app to use it instead of prompting it by voice or button.

 

[Pakaku]

I don't really see the appeal for other companies to make an app with their AI assistant. Part of the reason voice assistants are supposed to help is by being convenient. Siri can be summoned with just a button or your voice. If I have to unlock my phone and go to the app then it loses all the appeal no matter how much more advanced it is. At that point I might as well just go to safari and google whatever I need to know or look up.

They may or may not actually be banking on that inconvenience. "Wow, X AI is great, but maybe if I got an X Phone I wouldn't need to constantly boot the app up all the time."