Google's AI personal voice assistant doesn't have a very cool name. Unlike Amazon's Alexa or Apple's Siri, Google's voice assistant is generally just called Google Assistant, or "OK Google," which is really just a wake phrase you use to get its attention.
But that clumsiness aside, Google Assistant is a great assistant. Available for both the iPhone and Android, it's an accurate listener and delivers precise results. When you say "OK Google" or "Hey Google," it'll open and start listening for your commands.
Getting Google Assistant up and running on your phone or tablet is pretty simple — though it's admittedly easier to do on Android, where Google is baked into the operating system.
Here's how to set up Google Assistant on your Android, iPhone, or iPad.
How to set up Google Assistant on Android
The good news is that if you have an Android device, Google Assistant comes pre-installed. To use the "OK Google" or "Hey Google" wake phrase, however, you'll need to enable it.
1. Open the Google app and tap the three dots in the bottom-right corner, and then tap "Settings."
2. Tap "Voice" and then tap "Voice Match."
3. On the Voice Match screen, turn on "Hey Google" by swiping the slider to the right.
How to set up Google Assistant on an iPhone or iPad
You used to be able to add Google Assistant to Siri, so you could ask Siri to search using Google Assistant. Unfortunately, that function has since been taken out. You also used to be able to set up a shortcut to restore this feature, but that's been taken out too.
This means that to use Google Assistant on your iPhone, you'll need to open up the Assistant app each time.
1. Install the Google Assistant app — note that this is different than the Google app you might already have installed — and launch the app. If prompted, log into your Google account.
2. On the main page, tap the microphone icon at the bottom of the screen.
3. Google Assistant will start listening. Give your command or query, and it'll respond.
