Google announced last autumn a significant upgrade to devices running its Google TV front end with individualized access, allowing each user in a home to have distinct profiles with their own suggestions and Assistant responses. That feature was delayed until “the coming months” in December, and it’s still not available; however, sources indicate that glanceable cards for Google TV’s ambient mode screen saver, which was also announced at the same time, are beginning to roll out.
Google displayed a version of the UI with giant personalized cards scrolling across the center of the screen when they were revealed in October. They may show weather, sports scores, and news, or they could include links to stuff you would be interested in, such as podcast episodes, music, and images.
However, sources indicate that it looks a little different on the devices where it’s been seen thus far, with tiny information chips lined up across the bottom of the display with things like YouTube video shortcuts, a podcast in Google Podcasts, or a prompt for Google Assistant. If it is enabled on your device, they suggest a menu message that says “proactive personal results are now on” so you can go to the Assistant settings and turn them off if you don’t want them on your TV screen.
The specific timeframe of the deployment is uncertain, but with Google I/O starting tomorrow, perhaps we’ll learn more about its smart TV features then.
