Google Assistant will lose some weight, as at least 17 “underused” features will be removed in the coming weeks.
In a recent announcement post, the tech giant says it wants to focus on the parts of its digital assistant that people actually use, so it will get rid of the ones that see little interaction. You can find a list of upcoming removed features on Google's support website. They include playing audiobooks on Google Play Books using voice commands and requesting information about your contacts. For each feature that is removed, the company recommends solutions that you can use to replicate the same action. For example, although users will not be able to control audiobooks with their voice, they will still be able to stream them from a mobile device.
pulling the plug
Not everything will receive an equivalent solution. The Google Assistant integration with Calm is being phased out, and there's nothing you can do to duplicate the service. Instead, Google recommends playing a meditation video on YouTube.
It's worth noting that although the Help page lists 17 features, the text implies that more will be removed. We're reaching out to request details on the exact number of deprecated features. This story will be updated later.
It is unknown exactly when the company will close everything. The announcement post indicates that starting January 26, Google Assistant will send you a notification telling you that a feature “will not be available after a certain date” if you request it. That day officially remains a mystery. However, 9To5Google states in its report that the date is February 26 for most features. Nest Hub Commute Tiles and Google Maps App Launcher will go offline a little earlier, on February 7.
Next adjustments
In addition to all the removals, Google will make some adjustments to its mobile app.
Using the microphone icon will now activate “Search results in response to your queries.” But you will no longer be able to use the microphone for certain Google Assistant actions, such as turning on the lights or sending text messages. This disapproval extends to the search bar on Pixel phones. On your smartphone, tapping the icon will activate Voice Search instead of Assistant.
The company admits that these changes may be jarring to some. If there are issues, they ask you to say “Hey Google, send feedback” to Google Assistant and share your thoughts.
If you're looking for an AI assistant to help you with your daily routine but don't know where to start, check out TechRadar's list of the best smart speakers for 2024.
