Arrr, me hearties! Google Assistant be plannin' to abandon 17 shipshape features in the comin' weeks, mateys!
2024-01-11
Arr, ye scurvy dogs! Beware! Google be takin' away our power to rearrange events and whatnot from the Assistant. Alas, we know not when this dastardly deed shall come to pass. Avast!
Google Assistant is set to remove 17 "underutilized" features in the coming weeks. The tech giant wants to focus on the parts of its digital assistant that people actually use, so it will be getting rid of features that see little interaction. A list of the upcoming dropped features can be found on the Google Help website. Users will no longer be able to play audiobooks on Google Play Books via voice command or ask for information about their contacts. The company recommends workarounds for each feature being removed, such as casting audiobooks from a mobile device instead. However, not every feature will have an equivalent workaround. Google Assistant's integration with Calm is being axed, with the recommendation to play a meditation video on YouTube instead.The exact number of deprecated features is unknown, but the Help page lists 17 features and implies there may be more. The company has not disclosed when everything will be shut down, but it states that beginning on January 26, Google Assistant will send a notification if a feature won't be available after a certain date. According to 9To5Google, most features will be removed on February 26, while the Nest Hub Commute Tiles and Google Maps App Launcher will go offline on February 7.
In addition to the removals, Google will be making a few tweaks to its mobile app. Using the microphone icon will now activate "Search results in response to your queries," but certain Google Assistant actions like turning on lights or sending texts will no longer be available through the microphone. The changes may be jarring for some users, and the company encourages feedback through Google Assistant. For those looking for an AI assistant, TechRadar has a list of the best smart speakers for 2024.