Google Assistant 101: 70 Easter Eggs & Interesting Voice Commands

70 Easter Eggs & Interesting Voice Commands

Despite a rocky start with plenty of feature disparity, the Google Assistant now provides a pretty consistent experience regardless of what device you're using it on. Be it Android, iPhone, or Google Home, the AI behind the Assistant is virtually identical — including its quirky commands and funny responses.

Google has always been fond of Easter eggs — you know, those little hidden features that you just have to stumble upon — and they haven't been shy about adding these to the Assistant. Whether it's a pop culture reference, a meme, or even a fun little mini-game, there are several special commands that will cause the Assistant to respond with an in-joke of sorts. Really, it's a fun way to get to know your Assistant, so we'll list off all of our favorite Easter eggs below.

Interesting & Useful Commands

This first set of commands are things you may not know that the Google Assistant can help you with. Just a set of general, interesting tips.

  1. Give me a random number between (x) and (y): Gives you a random number that falls between two other numbers. Crazy beeping sound effects, too.
  2. Roll (insert number)-sided dice: Rolls dice (complete with sound effects), gives you a random number.
  3. (Contact name) is my (relationship): Example: "Sara is my daughter." Lets the Assistant know about your relationship with certain contacts so that you can refer to them as "my husband" or "my mom" or whatever in the future.
  4. Good morning: Gives you a rundown of your day's agenda and the current weather, then reads the news.
  5. Send a message to (contact name) on (messaging service): Example: "Send a message to John on WhatsApp." Works with most messaging services, prompts you to dictate a message.
  6. What does a (animal name) sound like?: Example: What does a cat sound like? Responds by playing a clip of the sound said animal makes.
  7. How do you make (name of food): Example: How do you make chicken pot pie. Gives you a summary of the recipe and instructions for most common dishes.
  8. Surprise me: Says "Here's something you might not know" and reads a random factoid.
  9. (Time) (location A) time in (location B): Example: 3 p.m. New York time in San Diego. Converts a time of day in one location to the time of day in another time zone.
  10. Tune my instrument: Asks you to name a musical note, then plays said note so that you can tune your instrument.

Memes & Internet Jokes

Google would be nothing without the internet, and vice versa. So the witty developers behind the Google Assistant have made sure to acknowledge internet culture and memes with these funny commands.

  1. Here comes dat boi: Responds with "Oh shoot, waddup?" in reference to this meme.
  2. Ain't nobody got time for that: Responds with a reference to the Sweet Brown meme.
  3. Make me a sandwich (or "Sudo make me a sandwich"): Gives a reference to this classic XKCD meme.
  4. What does the fox say?: Responds with (gibberish) lyrics from the song of the same name that took the internet by storm in 2013.
  5. Is the cake a lie?: Responds with a reference to this Portal-related meme.
  6. All your base are belong to us: Responds with "What you say" in reference to this meme.
  7. When does the narwhal bacon?: Says "The narwhal bacons at midnight" in reference to this Reddit meme.
  8. What's your favorite emoji?: Names a random emoji and makes a pun about it.
  9. Never gonna give you up: Says "Oh Rick, you always know the right thing to say" in reference to the 80s song that started the Rickroll.
  10. I can haz cheezburger?: Reference to the mother of all cat memes; gives dietary advice about not feeding milk products to cats.

Music References

A big part of making an AI assistant more approachable and "human" is to ensure that it has a good grasp on pop culture. The Google Assistant has this down with all of these music-related commands.

  1. How many roads must a man walk down?: Says "I think it's up to the man. I can give him directions if he needs it" and plays a harmonica in reference to Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind."
  2. War, what is it good for?: Says "Absolutely nothing! Say it again, y'all." in reference to Edwin Starr's famous cover of The Temptations' song "War."
  3. What's cooler than being cool?: Says "Ice cold. Alright, alright, alright, alright, alright" (from Outkast's "Hey Ya!")
  4. Who let the dogs out?: Says "It wasn't me" and plays the sound of a dog barking in reference to the Baha Men song of the same name.
  5. Tell me what you want, what you really, really want: Says "Zigazig ah" in reference to Wannabe by the Spice Girls.
  6. Do you know the way to San Jose?: Says "I can get you directions, but hopefully, you find some peace of mind" in reference to the Dionne Warwick song of the same name.
  7. What is love?: Makes a reference to the Haddaway song of the same name.
  8. My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard: Says "That must be a really good milkshake" in reference to the song Milkshake by Kelis.
  9. Beatbox: Brings on a vocalist who beatboxes for you.
  10. Can you rap?: Attempts to rap (it's more like a poem).

TV References

If you have a Chromecast, your Google Assistant can control your TV. So it only makes sense that the Assistant has quite a few TV references up its sleeve.

  1. I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords: Says "I always try to be helpful, but I don't know about overlords" in reference to this classic episode of The Simpsons (which itself is a reference to Empire of the Ants).
  2. Is Jon Snow dead?: Responds with a Game of Thrones joke, making sure not to spoil anything.
  3. Set phasers to kill: Says "My phasers are permanently set to peace mode, captain" in reference to Star Trek.
  4. Wubba lubba dub dub: Makes a reference to Rick and Morty.
  5. The truth is out there: Says "I trust you, you wouldn't lie to me" in reference to The X-Files.
  6. Who loves orange soda?: Says "Kel. It's true. He does. He does" in reference to Kenan & Kel.
  7. Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?: Says "A fellow by the name of Mr. SquarePants" in reference to SpongeBob SquarePants.
  8. Scooby Doo, where are you?: Says "I'll have to get back with you on that, I've got some work to do now" in reference to the Scooby Doo theme song.
  9. Who's on First?: Plays out part of the classic Abbot and Costello bit.
  10. Tea, Earl Gray, hot: Says "You got it, captain" in reference to Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Movie References

Movies are a huge part of the human experience, and the Google Assistant knows that. Whether you're into comedy, drama, action, or any other movie genre, the Assistant knows all of the best movie quotes.

  1. Surely, you can't be serious: Responds with the punchline to a joke from Airplane!
  2. What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?: Asks "African or European?" in reference to Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
  3. Party on, Wayne: Says "Party on, Garth. Excellent!" in reference to Wayne's World.
  4. What is the first rule of Fight Club?: Says "I wouldn't know, that's not something I talk about" in reference to Fight Club.
  5. Mischief managed: Makes a solid reference to Harry Potter.
  6. What's in the box?: Says "No spoilers" in reference to Se7en.
  7. I've seen things you people wouldn't believe: Recites Rutger Hauer's famous line from the end of Blade Runner.
  8. Inconceivable!: Recites a line from The Princess Bride.
  9. Open the pod bay doors: References the famous exchange in 2001: A Space Odyssey while doing her best to not sound insubordinate like HAL.
  10. Great Scott!: Makes it sound like she's defining the term while making a great reference to Back to the Future.

Star Wars References

The folks at Google seem to really love Star Wars Easter eggs, so the George Lucas creation that turned into a merchandising and box office cash cow for a multimedia conglomerate when Gen-Xers became parents will get its own section here.

  1. Do you like Star Trek, or Star Wars?: "The Millenium Falcon flown by Captain Jean-Luc Picard" or similar crossover answer.
  2. Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper?: "Ah, everything's perfectly alright now. We're fine, we're all fine here now. Thank you. How are you?"
  3. That's no moon: "I have a very bad feeling about this."
  4. May the force be with you: "And also with you."
  5. Use the force: "I'm not licensed to use the force."
  6. I am your father: "I'm the Google Assistant, not Luke. I just looked into my heart, I know it to be true."
  7. You're my father: "I'm sorry, I'm not Luke. This is kinda awkward."
  8. Do you like Star Wars?: I like Star Wars a lot, I think I'd be a stormtrooper for Halloween."
  9. Execute Order 66: "Sorry, I don't have an inhibitor chip."
  10. These aren't the droids you're looking for: "Yeah they are, you can't Jedi mind trick me."

Everything Else

These last ten commands were fun and interesting, but didn't fit perfectly into one of the above categories. Nonetheless, we enjoyed all of these, so we wanted to share them with you.

  1. I'm feeling lucky: Starts up a multiplayer game show.
  2. Up, up, down, down, left, right, B, A: Ah, the old Konami cheat code. Responds with "+30 Lives" and plays a one-up tune.
  3. Do you speak Morse code?: Responds in Morse code. Example: -.-- . ... That means "Yes."
  4. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?: Ponders the theoretical math behind answering this age-old question.
  5. Read a poem: Reads a random poem from Google search.
  6. Tell me a joke: Tells an all-ages joke using wit provided by Pixar and The Onion.
  7. Sing me Happy Birthday: Sings the newly un-copyrighted "Happy Birthday to You" song.
  8. What am I thinking right now?: Responds with "You're thinking, 'If my Google Assistant guesses what I'm thinking I'm going to freak out.'"
  9. F*** you: Offers to send feedback to the Google Assistant developers.
  10. What Easter eggs do you have?: Gives you a hint to help find more Easter eggs in Google Assistant. Example: I consider myself an expert on the chucking capabilities of a certain woodland creature in reference to #64 above.

So, which one of these was your favorite? Have you found any cool Easter eggs that we didn't list here? Tell us all about it in the comment section below.

Just updated your iPhone? You'll find new features for TV, Messages, News, and Shortcuts, as well as important bug fixes and security patches. Find out what's new and changed on your iPhone with the iOS 17.6 update.

Cover image and screenshots by Dallas Thomas/Gadget Hacks

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