Google Assistant has a smattering of recently released voice apps that do things like help Airbnb guests, play a rap lyrics karaoke challenge, or give guided whiskey tastings by Johnnie Walker.
The Actions on Google platform, which launched last December, now counts more than 450 voice apps, or actions, in its directory.
The recently added Facts About Sloths shares fun and scientific facts about sloths in visual cards (along with a fair amount of adorable sloth photos).
From Flyaway Sprout, the FreshHost action is for hotels, vacation rental owners, or Airbnb hosts. It gives quick answers to the kinds of questions that commonly occur to guests, answers to which are sometimes posted on the wall or filed in a binder someplace.
By creating a FreshHost account, you can make your own customized action that answers custom questions for guests. FreshHost is the second vacation rental action for Google Assistant, following the release of Vacation Rental Concierge in early 2017.
Like Vacation Rental Concierge, FreshHost recommends placing a small sign next to the smart speaker that reads "OK Google, talk to FreshHost" to help guests get started.
For bot developers, the Gupshup Proxy Bot action lets you test bots by invoking them using the name you gave the bot. The Voice Prototypes action from Sayspring also lets developers test Alexa and Google Assistant voice apps.
Then there's the Johnnie Walker action, which gives a whiskey 101 course and offers guided whiskey tastings, though of course you'll have to go get a bottle of Johnnie Walker for that. Depending on the kind of whiskey, some tastings last about five minutes since the action pauses for activities like sipping whiskey or pouring a mixed drink.
The Johnnie Walker action follows a series of bots made to promote alcoholic beverages, like Pátron tequila's cocktail maker and Absolut giving away free drinks on FB Messenger in select cities. Beer and wine guide actions have also launched in the past.
