Google today announced new automation and web features coming to Google Assistant for Android and iOS, the most notable feature for Apple users being the ability to locate a lost iPhone using the digital assistant.
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Android users have long been able to use Google Assistant to trigger a sound for their smartphone if it’s lost. The same ability, like the Apple Find My system, comes on the “iPhoneP. The feature will allow users who have a smart speaker enabled with Google Assistant and the accompanying Google Home app for iOS to find a device that is not moving.
The alert is triggered when you ask “Hey Google, find my phone” via a smart Google device at home. Once triggered, the Google Home app will send a critical iOS alert to your iPhone. Apple gives apps the ability to use critical alerts, which are special notifications that can go through “Do Not Disturb” or Silent mode to ensure they reach the user. Critical alert applications require special approval from Apple, and Google appears to have obtained this approval.
Additional features that appear in the Google Assistant app include “Assistant Routines,” which Google says will make it easier to perform multiple actions simultaneously with a single automatic order and a duplex update that makes it easier to place delivery and delivery orders with partner restaurants.