You can apply for a job with McDonald's using Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa

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Here's one more thing you can do with your virtual assistant: try and get a job at McDonald's. McDonald's Canada will let you use Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa to start applying for a job at the company. You just need to say the hotword "Alexa" or "Hey Google" and then add "help me get a job at McDonald's." The virtual assistant will then ask you a series of short questions about your location and the ideal position you want to apply for. You will then be sent a link via text to proceed with the application process. This feature is accessible on Amazon and Google smart devices as well as through the respective apps on your phone. The voice-initiated process is available in both English and French.

Source: MobileSyrup

Google promises better privacy protection for Assistant

Google faced significant backlash earlier in the year when it was discovered that human workers listened to audio recordings from Google Assistant users. According to the company, the practice helped improve speech technology. But users weren't convinced with the argument, especially with reports that it could capture personal conversations as well. Google wants to convince the public that it has put in place privacy-related improvements for its virtual assistant.

The company emphasized that it isn't retaining audio recordings by default. Users are asked to opt in to the Voice and Audio Activity (VAA) program when first setting up Assistant. And now existing Assistant users can review this VAA setting. Google said the human review process will resume after you confirm your preference. Google said in its blog post, "We won't include your audio in the human review process unless you've re-confirmed your VAA setting as on."

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Google Assistant offers second voice option in nine countries

Unfortunately, it isn't available here yet. But it'll be coming to nine other countries for the first time. The US is the first country to get a second option. Now there are new voices available for Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Norwegian in their respective countries. India and the UK get new English voices. When a user sets up a new Android phone, the default voice will be chosen at random. But users do have the option to change that later.

The voices are built with DeepMind's WaveNet technology to help make these sound natural. Instead of making the traditional female-sounding voice the default, Google is moving away from assigning genders to the system. Alternatively, the new voices will be referred to by colours. One is called red, and another is called orange. And the order they will be presented in is randomized. Google started this last year in the US with Google Nest and Home devices. 

Source: The Verge + Engadget

Google app and Google Assistant next to get dark theme

After showing up for both the Play Store and Gmail recently, the latest Google apps to get dark mode are the Google app and the Google Assistant. This rollout will be the second time Google rolled out the dark theme for the Google app after a select number of users got it back in June. But this will be the first time Google Assistant will be getting this option. A server-side update is bringing the dark theme to some users, so expect to wait for a bit before it becomes widely available. The update is reportedly showing up for users in the US, the UK, and Australia. 

And interestingly enough, it's also showing up for some Android Pie users. It allows them to choose between light and dark themes or to have it switch automatically when Battery Saver is enabled. One thing Android Central noted is that the Google Podcasts service within the Google app still has the Material White theme.