Roku Voice Control

Roku has revealed that Google Assistant is coming to

its devices via a software update in the coming weeks.

This means that you will soon be able to control your

Roku-branded streaming device by uttering a voice

command into your Google Home speaker or the Google

Assistant app on your phone, with similar functionality

landing on TVs that run the Roku operating system.

Those with a Roku streaming device will be able to play

and pause videos, search for content, and launch channels,

while anyone with a Roku TV will be able to turn their TV

on and off, alter the volume, change channels, and switch

Nputs.

This is a notable update from Roku and one that may

surprise some, given that Roku already offers some

voice-control smarts of its own through its voice remote

and the Roku mobile phone app. Plus, Roku recently

announced plans to launch a rival to the likes of Google

Assistant and Alexa with the Roku Entertainment Assistant.

It appears this isn’t quite ready for prime time, though its

launch was originally scheduled for sometime this fall. The

company is also planning to launch Roku-branded wireless

speakers shortly.

“As we broaden the Roku ecosystem, allowing consumers

to add new devices to their home entertainment networks,

we are in a unique position that is unlike any other TV

streaming platform,” said Ilya Asnis, senior vice president of

Roku OS. “Our single operating system running across Roku

TVs and Roku TV wireless speakers gives us the ability to

innovate how consumers experience audio and entertainment

in their homes.”