Google Assistant starts spewing out ads on the Google Home and phones

It was only a matter of time, right? Google, an ad company (based on its main revenue stream), is serving up ads - phrased like that it doesn't seem like a big deal. But how many of you would have expected the much-lauded Google Assistant to start telling you ads?

Well, that's exactly what it's doing. If you use the daily briefing feature that you can trigger by asking "What's my day like?" you'll hear something new today. In between the summary of your commute, reminders, calendar events, weather and the presentation of the most important news, this briefing has an ad.

New Beauty & the Beast promo is one way Google could monetize Home. cc: @gsterling @dannysullivan pic.twitter.com/9UlukSocrO

— brysonmeunier (@brysonmeunier) March 16, 2017

The Assistant tells you that, "by the way", the new Beauty and the Beast remake is out today. One Google Home owner has recorded the ordeal and embedded that recording on Twitter, see above.

People using the daily briefing functionality on phones with Google Assistant have also heard the ad, though it seems to be much more widespread on Google Home devices for whatever reason.

At the moment there doesn't seem to be a way for you to opt out of being played ads. It's also unclear if these are going to be headed to the 'Feed' of cards on Google's launchers for Android and its eponymous app. Will there be a backlash? Let's wait and see.

Source | Via 1 | Via 2