Google I/O is happening this week, and while many users in the Android community are interested what Android N will be packing, there are a few other developments to take note of. One of these takes the form of AI, and more specifically an AI assistant platform called Google Home, according to The New York Times.  

Unlike the recently debuted Viv AI platform, which is digital, Google’s implementation is said to come in a more tangible form factor. Perhaps rivalling Amazon's Echo Bluetooth speaker, Google Home is said to take the guise of a speaker and work via voice prompts. 

Precisely how Google Home will extend its functionality beyond Google Search is unclear for now, but The Verge believes this device will try to get a jump on the competition, with only a handful of them readily available in the market. The device, yet to see the light of day, is expected to be debuted later today, along with reaching US retailers before the end of Q3 this year.