GOOGLE ASSISTANT LANDS ON LG 2018 THINQ TVS

LG Electronics has announced Google Assistant is now available on 2018 ThinQ AI TVs, including its OLED & Super UHD range. The news follows its global unveiling at CES 2018.

The new voice control functionality utilises the TV’s remote control, forgoing the need for additional hardware.

In conjunction with LG’s ThinQ AI technology, Google Assistant allows a person’s voice to peruse content, change settings, control compatible smart home devices (e.g. smart lights), set reminders and more.

For example – connect to gaming consoles and soundbars via voice (“Connect to

soundbar”) or switch picture modes (“Change to Cinema Mode”).

LG claims it started working with Google early this year, with additional features/ languages reportedly in the works.

More third-party functions are scheduled to roll out over time – e.g. food delivery and transportation.

Ensuring viewing isn’t disrupted, users simply need to press and hold their remote’s mic button and ask questions like “What’s the weather this weekend?”

President of LG Home Entertainment, Brian Kwon, affirms LG’s “unique partnership” with Google makes it the first TV brand to offer Google Assistant on its own OS (webOS).

“With great partners like Google, we expect there to be many more exciting AI news to come from LG”, Kwon adds.

LG 2018 AI-enabled TVs work with other Google Assistant devices in Australia, US, UK and Canada with further expansion coming later this year.