The subject technology provides implementations for entering an ambient assist mode for a digital assistant. The subject technology determines, using a set of signals, to activate an ambient assist mode for a client computing device, the client computing device including a screen and a keyboard, and the client computing device is currently executing in a mode other than the ambient assist mode. Further, the subject technology activates, at the client computing device, the ambient assist mode in which the ambient assist mode enables the client computing device to enter a low power mode and listen for an audio input signal corresponding to a hotword for activating a digital assistant, and the digital assistant is configured to respond to a command corresponding to the audio input signal using at least the screen of the client computing device.