Can't be there for kids? Google Nest now lets you record bedtime stories

Google Assistant is already capable of telling your kids a bedtime story if they ask for one, but what if you want something more personalized? That’s where this latest feature comes into play.

The company announced a new My Storytime action for users to play recorded bedtime stories via Google Assistant-enabled devices. Users can record stories via Mystorytime.com, and family members can then play them back by asking Google Assistant to “talk to my Storytime.”

Google said the idea was inspired by military families, as parents deploying overseas and miss out on bedtime stories. But it says the feature is also ideal for grandparents living far away from their grandchildren, nurses or police officers working night shifts, and parents away on business trips.

Parents wanting to get in on the action need to sign into My Storytime with their Google account. From here, they can either record stories via the service or upload previously recorded stories to the service.

Google specifically noted that parents and authorized users can access the stories on Nest Mini, Nest Hub, and Nest Hub Max devices. But the firm told Android Authority that the feature is actually available on all Assistant-enabled devices and in all Assistant regions that support English.