Google Assistant is a versatile tool that can help with various tasks in your daily life, from answering questions to controlling your smart home. However, there are privacy concerns and annoyances that can affect the Google Assistant experience. To address these issues, there are several adjustments you can make to your Google Assistant settings. One key adjustment is to update your voice recording settings to control how long Google keeps your audio recordings and whether they are shared with human analyzers. You can also delete your voice command history and adjust the sensitivity of the “Hey, Google” wake word.
Another adjustment you can make is to turn off the Continued Conversation feature, which allows Google Assistant to listen for follow-up questions without needing to be prompted again. This feature can sometimes be distracting or unwanted, so disabling it can help streamline interactions with Google Assistant. Additionally, you can adjust the sensitivity of the “Hey, Google” wake word to ensure that Google Assistant responds accurately to your voice commands.
For users of Google-enabled smart displays with cameras, such as the Nest Hub Max, it is important to manage camera settings to maintain privacy. You can disable the camera and microphone when not in use, either through a physical switch on the device or a software toggle. For added security, consider using a webcam cover to physically block the camera when needed. Resetting your activity controls can also help to manage the information Google saves about the sites and apps you use with your Google account, providing additional peace of mind regarding privacy.
Overall, these adjustments to your Google Assistant settings can enhance your experience with the voice assistant and address privacy concerns. By updating voice recording settings, turning off Continued Conversation, adjusting wake word sensitivity, managing camera settings on smart displays, and resetting activity controls, you can optimize your interactions with Google Assistant and ensure that your personal information is protected.
