Google Assistant Gets Santa Tracker, Holiday Jokes

Google Assistant is getting into the holiday spirit.

As Android Police reported on Friday, the search giant's digital assistant can now track Santa, tell holiday jokes, and spin the dreidel for you. Google has integrated its beloved Santa Tracker into Assistant, meaning you can now say "where's Santa" or "track Santa" to keep tabs on the jolly fellow's location.

"Santa is checking the weather reports," Google Assistant said when Android Police checked St. Nick's location. "He's up at the North Pole, getting ready for Christmas Eve departure."

Meanwhile, if you need some festive cheer, Assistant is also now delivering holiday-themed jokes. Just say "tell me a Santa joke" or "Santa joke" for Google's best quips.

"Where do my elves keep their money?" one joke goes, according to the report. "Why in a snow bank, of course. Ho! Ho! Ho!"

You can also ask Assistant to spin the dreidel and it might tell you, for instance, "It's hay. You win half the coins."

Recommended by Our Editors

Amazon Echo vs. Google Nest: Which Smart Speaker Is Best?

First previewed at Google I/O, Assistant lets users have "an ongoing, two-way dialog with Google," the company's CEO Sundar Pichai said. You can also use Assistant to do things like buy concert tickets, make a restaurant reservation, and get directions all by voice. Assistant is available on Google Home ($99.00 at Target) , the Google Allo smart messaging app, and the Pixel ($649.99 at Verizon) phone.

Meanwhile, word has it that Santa will be skipping some cubicles in Mountain View during his round-the-world journey this year. Google parent company reportedly donated $30 million worth of gadgets — including Chromebooks, phones, and other tech — to schools on its employees' behalf in lieu of holiday gifts.