Voice-based 'OK Google' hotword search comes to desktop Chrome

Google Chrome has been added with an extension that will let you perform a search simply by voice commands now. The “OK Google” command will now work on Google Chrome.

In a Google+ post, the Internet giant announced the release of the Google Voice Search Hotword extension. The tool will be available right from the Chrome Web Store. Google feels that this tool will come in handy, especially now that the holiday season is being kicked off with Thanksgiving.

OK Google now on Chrome

You can use the Voice Search Hotword extension to search without having to type in your query into Google. It works pretty much like Google Now works on Android phones. Start the search by saying “OK Google” followed by your query. You can ask questions like what’s the height of your favourite actor or how many grams make a kilogram. You can also command Google to set you a reminder or time an activity too.

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Voice Search Hotword does work offline and won’t send any voice recording to Google unless you start off your query with the words “OK Google”. To start off searching, you will have to start a new tab first. Google Chrome’s updated tab page will show up the Google Search bar right there and you can start asking it questions. One thing you must know is that this extension works only for Google.com and not other Google domain names.

You will be able to figure out if Google is listening to you as the microphone icon will be highlighted. Google also says that the voice Search will provide voice feedback and also strip your query down off unnecessary words to make it more streamlined. For example, if you tell Google “show me some Brad Pitt movies,” Google will show results for “Brad Pitt movies”.