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Google accidentally spills the beans about its Guacamole feature for Assistant

By Sarah Chen
1 min read
google assistant
google assistant
In this article (5)

A new feature for Google Assistant called “Guacamole” is coming to Android. At first, it wasn’t clear what the “guac” will add to the digital helper, we now have an idea of what this feature does. It allows users to perform “time-sensitive quick tasks” such as silencing their alarms or answering their calls without having to say “Hey Google.”

Interestingly, Guacamole appears only in version 12.5 of the Google app beta running on Android 11, not on the Android 12 Developer Preview. While Google wasn’t exactly forthcoming with information, it originally released a description about “Guacamole”: “Quickly get things done with Guacamole.”

The feature accidentally was discovered in the main Assistant settings under “Guacamole” where it says “Skip saying Hey Google” for help with quick tasks. For example, you can cancel a ringing alarm by saying “Stop,” or “Snooze.” Handling an incoming call is as easy as saying “Answer/Decline the call” without having to say “Hey Google.”

These settings were not meant to be viewed by non-Googlers.

Google was testing Guacamole internally and the Assistant menu that accompanies this story was not meant for viewing by non-Googlers. A toggle switch can be used to enable the feature under Voice shortcuts.

Questions & Answers

Q.

What is the primary function of the new Guacamole feature?

A.

Guacamole allows users to complete time-sensitive tasks, such as silencing alarms or managing calls, without needing to say "Hey Google" first. This streamlines interactions for quick actions.

Q.

Which operating system and app version is Guacamole currently visible on?

A.

The Guacamole feature currently appears in version 12.5 of the Google app beta. It is running on Android 11, rather than the newer Android 12 Developer Preview.

Q.

How did Google reveal details about the Guacamole feature?

A.

Google accidentally disclosed information about Guacamole. It was discovered in the main Assistant settings, where its functionality to "Skip saying Hey Google" for quick tasks was outlined.

Q.

What are some specific examples of tasks Guacamole can handle?

A.

Users can say "Stop" or "Snooze" to cancel a ringing alarm. Also, they can answer or decline an incoming call simply by saying "Answer/Decline the call" without the usual trigger phrase.

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