The Consumer Electronics Show opening this week in Las Vegas may be the biggest tech show, attracting more than 180,000 attendees and 4,000 exhibiting companies, but one of the biggest tech firms has been mostly AWOL: Google LLC That all changed this year as the Silicon Valley giant hosted one of the biggest shows at CES.

The company is pushing its Google Assistant digital concierge hard at the event, which isn’t surprising considering Amazon.com Inc.’s Alexa’s domination at the event last year and its return visit this year.

At CES Monday, Google announced it will partner with various manufacturers that will build smart speakers that include Google Assistant. The 13 companies that will create voice-activated speakers include Altec Lansing LLC, Bang & Olufsen A/S, Braven LC, iHome Inc., JBL Inc. and LG Corp.

Four of the companies — JBL, Lenovo Group Ltd., LG and Sony Corp. — are taking things further with their Google Assistant speakers with the inclusion of a touchscreen. These smart display devices will be available this summer, according to Google, and will rival the Amazon Echo Show.

Google and Amazon have had a strained relationship over the last few months. Google pulled YouTube from the Echo Show in September and subsequently also removed it from Amazon’s Fire TV at the end of 2017.  

Here’s a look at one of the first smart display speakers, as well as other products that will soon incorporate Google Assistant:

Lenovo Smart Display

Lenovo is the first company to introduce its Google Assistant-equipped smart speaker at CES.

The Lenovo Smart Display comes with either an 8-inch or 10-inch touchscreen display and will retail for $200 and $250 respectively when it launches in the early summer. The Echo Show retails for $230.

The 8-inch Lenovo Smart Display is available in grey, while the 10-inch comes in a bamboo color. Both models can be used horizontally or vertically and include 10-watt speakers, a 5-megapixel camera for video calls and Qualcomm Inc. processors designed specifically for Google’s smart displays.

Lenovo Smart Display with Google Assistant, via Lenovo

Like the Echo Show, users will be able to use voice commands to control their smart home, search the internet, ask for directions, play music or check their calendar.

Any relevant information will be displayed on the touchscreen, including maps, recipes and calendar events. The touchscreen can also be used to watch YouTube videos or have video chats using Google Duo. But ordinary calls won’t be possible at this stage.

Google Assistant in TVs, headphones and cars

TVs

Google Assistant was introduced last year in Android TVs, including Nvidia Corp.’s Shield TV and Sony’s Android TVs. Google plans to roll out Assistant to other Android TVs this year, including AirTV Player, Bouygues Telecom, LG U+, TCL, Skyworth and Xiaomi.

This week will also see the launch of new Android TVs with Google Assistant from a variety of companies, including Haier Group Corp. and Hisense Group Co. Ltd. Google is also working with LG to integrate Assistant into the company’s new line of TVs.

Headphones

The QC 35 II headphones became the first headphones to incorporate Google Assistant when Bose Corp. launched them in September. Google announced that more headphones with Assistant, from companies such as Jaybird LLC, JBL, LG and Sony, will launch this year.

JBL introduced the wireless Everest headphones, compatible with Google Assistant. The Everest headphones are available in three options: around-ear, on-ear, and in-ear. Using Google Assistant, users will be able to control volume, hear about the day’s schedule, play specific music genres, answer calls and the like, all by voice command.

Sony has announced seven new headphone models at CES as well, all with Google Assistant support. They’ll go on sale in the spring.

Cars

Google also announced that its digital assistant will be rolling out to Android Auto in the U.S. this week. Android Auto is currently available in more than 400 models from 40-plus brands.

With the Google Assistant in Android Auto, drivers will be able to listen to playlists from Spotify or Google Play Music, get directions from Google Maps or Waze and send or receive messages with services like WhatsApp. Additional functionality that will be available soon will be the ability to reserve a parking space with SpotHero or order coffee and food from Starbucks.

New Actions page

Finally, Google introduced a new directory page where users can find all the Actions available for Google Assistant. These include features built by Google, as well as from developers, publishers and other companies.  

Image: Google