Investing in startups and the future of the Google Assistant

The new program’s components demonstrate that Google is willing to throw its wallet and weight behind the Google Assistant and the early stage startups that can improve it. The program isn’t limited to voice first software however. Google states that:

“We’re welcoming companies across a diverse range of fields, including startups that are developing technologies that broaden the Assistant’s set of features, or are building new hardware devices for digital assistants, or that focus on a particular industry such as travel, games, or hospitality.”

Google also shared the fortunate first four startups it chose for its fund, which are:

GoMoment – Creator of Ivy, a 24/7 concierge for hotel

guestsEdwin – A Personal English tutor that prepares students looking to take English as a foreign language testsBotSociety – Developed a tool that allows developers to design, prototype and user test voice

interfacesPulse Labs – Tools to help develops test their applications with real people

The first four startups chosen are right in line with Google’s ambitions for its Google Assistant. It wants it to be everywhere consumers are, globally dominant and scary smart. By investing in the developers and companies working already to improve the Assistant, Google is signaling again that is all in on voice technology. And is willing to throw millions at it today to improve tomorrow.