Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Smart Home
  3. News

GE and Electrolux kitchen appliances get helpful with Google Assistant support

AJ Dellinger
By

We could all use an assistant in the kitchen. While an actual helping hand might be a little too much to ask for, appliance makers GE and Electrolux are looking to help keep your hands free with the introduction of voice-command features that will integrate with Google Assistant.

According to GE, the company’s full line of Wi-Fi Connect appliances now welcome Google Assistant support. That will make it easier for you to communicate with your internet-connected devices through Google’s voice-powered assistant service. The improved compatibilitiy will simplify the command process, allowing you to say things like, “Hey, Google, preheat the oven to 425 degrees” and trust that the A.I. will take care of the task for you without requiring any additional input.

Recommended Videos

GE announced that it plans to offer a full range of products that will offer connected services, including Google Assistant support. Those appliances will include refrigerators, ovens, ventilation hoods, dishwashers, air conditioners, washers, and dryers, and will be spread across five distinct brands produced by the massive manufacturer.

Related

“For GE Appliances, connected leadership starts with consumer tech that is purposeful and practical,” Shawn Stover, the vice president of GE Appliances’ SmartHome Solutions team, said in a statement. “Working with Google, we have created a more natural way to communicate with your appliances that allows you to speak your request like you would with any friend or family member who’s helping around the house.”

To enable the Google Assistant functionality, link your Google Home account to U+ Connect, GE’s platform for internet-connected appliances. Once enabled, you’ll be able to issue shorthand commands that Google Assistant will understand and enact.

Joining GE in the adoption of Google Assistant support is Electrolux, the world’s second-largest appliance-maker. Starting in 2019, the company will include new functionality with its internet-connected kitchen products — starting with ovens — that will expand voice controls available through Google’s voice assistant.

“We are very happy to collaborate with Google to give people a simple, rewarding way of interacting with their connected Electrolux appliances,” says Dan Arler, head of major appliances EMEA at Electrolux. “Voice control supports a clear user need. Whether it’s hands-free cooking or just an easier way to interact with the oven, we think consumers will love it.”

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
AJ Dellinger
AJ Dellinger
Contributor
AJ Dellinger is a freelance reporter from Madison, Wisconsin with an affinity for all things tech. He has been published by…
9 ways Google Assistant can help with Thanksgiving
Nest devices grouped together on a counter.

Google Assistant is available on all sorts of devices around your home. From a basic smartphone to smart speakers, smart displays like the Nest Hub Max, Google Chromecast, and lots more, the assistant is often only a “Hey Google” away from helping. That feature comes in really handy around Thanksgiving, when there’s a whole lot to do and not a lot of time to do it. Here’s how Google Assistant can help make your holiday gathering a little easier.
Look up recipes and ingredient conversions

If you have a Nest smart display or an Android phone, you can tap any recipe you find and say, “Hey Google, add to my cookbook.” Then, when you’re ready in the kitchen, you can simply ask to see your cookbook. With compatible recipes and devices, you can even say, “Hey Google, start cooking,” in a recipe, and Google will walk you through the steps (this trick is primarily for smart displays).

Read more
How to sell your parents on a smart assistant
The Echo Show 15 is the largest smart display yet.

We all know how discerning, doubtful, and lovingly thick-headed our parents can be, especially when it comes time to adapting new technologies. I'm sure many of us can still hear the arguments about switching to a flatscreen TV buzzing around in our brains ("but the Trinitron still works great!"), which can make the idea of trying to convince mom or dad to start using Alexa a bit of a daunting task.

But the fact is that a digital smart assistant, whether it be Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri, can do a number of things, but chief amongst the myriad of capabilities, these digital companions are designed to add convenience, organization, and a number of peace-of-mind automations to the lives of all who use them.

Read more
Roundup of pets messing with Google and Alexa
A dog and his human companions surrounding the Petcube Bites 2.

Pets are part of our smart homes, too, and it’s no surprise that they can get involved in how our smart tech works. That can lead to surprising results, especially with our voice assistants and smart displays, like those from Google and Amazon. While pets have their own smart devices that are made for special types of interaction, the funniest moments are often when they start noticing controls that are meant for humans. Here’s some of the situations we’re talking about!
Parrots learning how to order from Alexa
@maxtheafricangrey2000♬ original sound - Max Franklin

There are many cases of parrots, especially African Grey parrots, learning to talk to Alexa and experimenting with the responses they get. They even order food and other items. It’s incredible the way they learn to imitate their owners to get a specific result, and Alexa’s predictive algorithms make it all too easy to add items to a shopping list or an Amazon order.

Read more