Google Assistant on Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 (so close…)

I have an ageing Nexus 5 phone. I also have a Nexus 7 (2013) which – incidentally – has been the best tablet I’ve had at a fantastic price and I’m sorely disappointed they’re not making it any more. I digress.

On clicking the link, I get asked to open in Google Assistant… yes please!

Neither of these devices officially supports Google Assistant, the fancy chatbot/AI thing from Google, which is a shame as I do have a Google Home and quite like it.

Various articles online seem to suggest both devices are too old to be supported, which – if true – would be a shame but understandable given the age.

Strangely, it seems to be almost there. It’s even ended up on my phone and tablet. If I click this link on either the phone or tablet (a Google I/O service) I am asked if I want to ‘open in Google Assistant. It seems that any clickable link (you have to click from an existing page) will open this if the URL begins https://assistant.google.com/services/a/

This is the resource opened in the native Google Assistant app on a Nexus 5

Not that I get far beyond that, but it’s interesting (and frustrating) to know that somewhere beneath the surface and to some degree or other, Assistant is installed.