From Actions on Google to the SDK, the Google Assistant is getting better for developers

Google is enhancing its Assistant platform for developers by extending Actions on Google to Android phones and iPhones, allowing for new use cases and UI elements like image carousels and suggestion chips. The update includes the introduction of transaction and payment capabilities, offering two options: Google-facilitated payments or user-provided payment methods with seamless account linking. A new developer console integrated with Firebase and Google Cloud helps teams track app performance and user discovery, while an app directory improves app discoverability with categories and user ratings. The Assistant SDK has been updated to support hotwords and alarms, and a developer competition has been announced to encourage the creation of innovative apps for Google Assistant. The platform is also set to expand to new languages and devices, reflecting ongoing efforts to enhance the developer experience.