Grand Rapids Business Journal Courtesy Whirlpool Corporation Whirlpool Corporation is enhancing its voice-command capabilities as a launch collaborator for Google Assistant voice notifications, a new functionality available through Google’s intelligent personal assistant software. The Benton Harbor-based maker of home appliances said last week that it soon will debut Google Assistant voice notifications on select connected Maytag and Whirlpool brand washers and dryers manufactured since 2016, and on select connected JennAir and KitchenAid brand products later this year. Unlike traditional voice-command features that require direct questions, these voice notifications will proactively alert appliance users with updates. For Whirlpool and Maytag brand washer and dryer owners, this will include alerts on the status of laundry and dryer cycles, including notifications of when laundry is ready to be moved to the dryer and when drying is complete.