Google Adds New Option to Activate AI Assistant

Google has patented a new way to activate its voice assistant without saying a hotword like “Hey Google” or pressing a button.

The idea is simple: the phone can sense when you bring the screen close to your face and will automatically switch on the assistant for a short time, letting you start speaking right away.

Thanks to our collab with David from @xleaks7, we were first to spot the patent.

Google activated AI Assistant when detects your face nearby | Image: Neume

 

The Problem

Activating an assistant often requires an extra step: saying the hotword, tapping an icon, or pressing a power button.

This can be inconvenient and sometimes unreliable: noisy environments, face masks, gloves, or limited hand movement can all cause issues.

As a result, the interaction slows down, or the assistant doesn’t start at all. This patent aims to remove that friction and make activation more natural.

No need to say hotwords or press buttons | Image: Neume

 

How Does This Work?

The phone’s touchscreen uses a grid of capacitive sensors that usually detect finger touches.

But those same sensors can also pick up nearby objects by sensing changes in the electric field, even without physical contact.

When you bring the screen near your mouth or face, the sensor grid registers a distinctive wide, soft pattern.

The system processes that pattern (by shape and strength) and recognizes it as a “face-near” signal.

Once detected, the assistant launches automatically, temporarily skipping the need for a hotword.

 

Benefits

• Faster access: No need to say “Hey Google” or press buttons, just lift the phone to your face

• More reliable: Works even when hotwords fail (noisy places, mask on, or hands busy)

• Battery-friendly: Uses low-power sensors, so it won’t drain your phone

• Smarter over time: The system adapts and learns to recognize your habits better

 

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