Google’s new Guest Mode is like incognito mode for Google Assistant

google-pixel-2-xl-google-assistant-voice

Your interactions with Google Assistant will not be saved when Guest Mode is turned on.

What you need to know

  • Google Assistant is getting a new Guest Mode for privacy-conscious users.
  • When it’s turned on, the virtual assistant will not save any of its interactions with you.
  • Turning it on and off is as simple as a single voice command.

Google this week announced a new Guest Mode for its virtual assistant that’s designed with privacy-conscious folks in mind. A simple “Hey Google, turn on Guest Mode” will ensure that none of your interactions with Google Assistant are collected by the company and nor will they be used to ‘personalize your experience’ — often an indirect way of referring to targeted ads.

When it’s on, the Assistant will play a special chime to let you know. Smart displays with Assistant will also show a guest icon on the screen. And you can always check for yourself by saying, “Hey Google, is Guest Mode on?”

Even with Guest Mode on, you can still do most of the things you’d want to use Assistant for, like listening to music, asking questions, or controlling your smart devices. Commands that require access to your personal information, like accessing the calendar or your contacts, however, will be unavailable until you turn Guest Mode off. To do so, just say, “Hey Google, turn off Guest Mode.”

The company is launching the feature on its Nest smart speakers and displays first, and it’s only available in English for the time being. Support for more languages and devices will roll out in the coming months.

You can learn more about the feature by either saying, “Hey Google, tell me about Guest Mode,” or going to the company’s privacy page for Assistant here.

Nest Hub Max

nest-hub-max-official-render_0.jpeg

$230 at Best Buy
$230 at B&H

The Nest Hub Max is a smart display that’s designed for people who want a larger screen and much better audio than what the standard Nest Hub offers. It also has some clever camera features that you won’t find on other smart displays.

Latest posts

Claude can now connect to learning apps like Canvas, Panopto and Wiley

At the start of April, Anthropic released Learning mode, a feature that changed how Claude would interact with users. With the tool enabled, the...

The best Amazon Prime Day deals for day two are live: Get up to 50 percent off our top picks on headphones, TVs, robot...

Amazon Prime Day is finally here, so now’s the time for members to stock up on discounted home essentials, clothing, shoes, and of course,...

The MyPillow guy’s lawyers fined for error-riddled AI-generated court filing

MyPillow CEO and election conspiracy enthusiast Mike Lindell's legal team is in some hot water after submitting an AI-generated court filing, as reported by...

The best laptops for gaming and schoolwork in 2025

The line between laptops built for gaming and those built for heavy-duty computing work has all but disappeared. These days, you don’t have to...

The latest Kindle Scribe is on sale for a record-low price thanks to Prime Day

The latest Amazon Kindle Scribe ereader is on sale for just $260 as part of the Prime Day festivities. This is a record-low price...

Google Maps comes to Garmin smartwatches

If you’ve ever wished that your Garmin smartwatch could do a better job of helping you find the restaurant you’re late for dinner at,...

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is coming to PS5 later this year

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is coming to PS5. On Wednesday, developer GSC Game World said the shooter will launch on Sony's console later...

X CEO Linda Yaccarino is stepping down after two years

Linda Yaccarino is stepping down as CEO of X, apparently effective immediately. She posted the news, naturally, on X, saying "I’m immensely grateful to...

All digital Xbox games now carry standardized accessibility tags

Microsoft just announced that all digital games and experiences are now accompanied by clearly labeled and standardized accessibility tags. These Accessible Games Initiative tags...

The best Amazon Prime Day 2025 robot vacuum deals that you can get right now

Robot vacuums are some of the pricier smart home gadgets you can get, making them great items to look for during sales like Amazon...