Top 3 Key Points:
- Gboard Renaming: “Assistant voice typing” is now called “Advanced features” in Gboard settings.
- Consistent Functionality: The rebranding does not change how voice commands work, allowing text editing and emoji insertion.
- Focus Shift: Google is focusing on Gemini models for future voice interactions, particularly on smartphones.
When Google first introduced “Assistant voice typing” with the Pixel 6 in 2021, it quickly became one of the standout features of the device. However, with recent shifts in Google’s approach to its voice assistant, Gboard has been updated to reflect these changes.
In the latest version of Gboard, the feature previously known as “Assistant voice typing” has been rebranded to a more generic “Advanced features” within the Voice Typing section of the settings. This renaming aligns with Google’s broader strategy as they phase out Google Assistant on smartphones.
Despite the new name, the functionality remains the same. Users can still use advanced voice commands to type, edit messages, insert emojis, and more. These features are still powered by voice dictation, which offers a better experience than Gboard’s standard offline voice typing available on other Android devices.
Google Assistant will continue to play a significant role on devices like Nest displays and speakers, focusing on smart home interactions. The upcoming Gemini large language models (LLMs) promise to enhance these interactions with more natural and conversational capabilities, including follow-up questions and responses. Additionally, new voices are set to be introduced to Google Assistant.
On the smartphone front, Google’s focus is shifting entirely to the Gemini models. The recent rebranding of Gboard reflects this transition. Users will notice no immediate changes in the user interface, with the familiar curved light bar icon, first seen on the Pixel 4, remaining in place. However, the “Fix it” feature appears to be closely related to the upcoming Gemini branding.
This branding update is currently rolling out with the beta version 14.5.x of Gboard for Android devices, signaling Google’s evolving approach to voice interactions on their smartphones.
