Android TVs Finally Getting Google Assistant Routines

"Hey Google, good morning." That's all it took to trigger the Google Assistant inside the Sony TV in front of me to rattle off details about the local weather forecast, tell me about upcoming meetings, let me know about the nearby traffic and even play a video newsreel.

If you're like me, and you fall asleep in front of your TV (it's in my bedroom, OK), you are about as intimate with that big screen as you are any smart device in your house. This is why Google's finally adding its Assistant Routines — which can do a whole lot after you say a single phrase — to Android TV sets.

Smart assistant features are many and complex, so you'll be excused if you thought Assistant Routines weren't on Android TV already. At a private briefing earlier this week in NY, I got to see Assistant on Android TV in action for myself, and learn that this feature should be on all Android TVs by October 22.

You can even create a custom routine, and we've got a complete guide for building your own routines. The perks of a custom routine include selecting the kind of media you want to see or hear, as well as the specific news source you want piped through your device.

That thermostat control is down to the degree, so you're getting complete control. A Google Assistant routine can also help you handle your regular routines, informing you about anything you need to know about your commute home or to work.

Henry was a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.