Google has announced that Google Assistant will lose at least 17 features that are rarely used by users. This decision aims to focus on the quality and reliability of the product. Google Assistant, which is available on smartphones and smartwatches, has become an invaluable tool for many users in Poland.
Among the features that will disappear from Assistant is the ability to play audiobooks and control them in Google Play Books using voice commands. Google recommends transferring audio books to mobile devices to continue using this feature. Users will also no longer be able to use voice commands to call their device or send messages to the Google Family Group. However, this feature is still available through streaming to home devices.
Other disappearing features include changing the event date in Google Calendar using voice commands, displaying sleep summaries on third-party smartwatches, and checking personal travel plans using voice commands. Google emphasizes that these features can still be used, but with some changes and improvements.
It is worth noting that Google will also make changes to the way Assistant works on phones. The microphone icon on the Google search bar will no longer display Assistant, but will only initiate voice search. Initiating Assistant will be possible by saying “OK Google” or pressing and holding the power button.
Google assures that it wants these changes to be as smooth as possible for users. User feedback is crucial for the development of Assistant, so the company encourages users to provide feedback through voice commands.