What you need to know
- Nest device users were warned that “phone actions and automations” would be leaving Google Home in the first week of May.
- Causing concern among users, Google clarified that it was not removing the automation, but rather removing “phone-related actions” from the automation, frustrating users.
- As a feature prepares to roll out, Google added “Continued Conversations” to Gemini for Home, making it easier to ask follow-up questions and more.
Google’s smart home devices have been sending warnings to users recently, informing them that a feature is about to go away.
A thread was started in Google Nest CommunityDrawing attention to the warning that the user’s smart device gave them about phone actions and automation (via). 9to5Google). When starting their nightly routine, the user’s device told them that, beginning the first week of May, “Phone Actions and Automations will no longer be available.” The user expressed his discomfort with this, as did others in the community thread.
One user replied that they use the feature “several times a day” and would be upset if it were turned off. The publication saw another example of users reporting this warning on their Nest Hub and other devices on reddit. Again, users there express their displeasure over this strange removal of automation from Google Home; However, it is not as bad as it seems.
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A Google community expert responded on the main forum and Reddit, clarify the situation. According to his post, “We are not removing automation in May.” It has been said that only phone related action will be taken In Automation is something that is going away. The representative offers the following examples: check battery level, set/unset do not disturb, and set your phone’s volume. Everything related to your home will remain untouched, but Google seems to be curbing anything related to your phone.
Features come and go
Despite the clarification, it seems that these phone-related activities will be missed by users. Google has not yet answered the question as to whether or not there is a fix for things disappearing in (potentially) a week. We’ll likely get a proper update from Google when that happens, so we’ll have to wait and see.
Just as Google is preparing to remove a feature, it has done so A recent addition for Gemini is that it keeps its “ears” open longer. The company introduced “Continued Conversations”, giving users more opportunities to continue talking to Gemini about their previous task or request. The feature, headed to Early Preview, comes after user feedback. Now, Gemini will “remember” the conversation, keeping your mic active for follow-up questions or additional actions. Elsewhere, Nest Hub users reported a strange problem with their devices, as they failed to tell the time correctly.
It’s not the watch that’s wrong, only the way the AI talks about it is wrong. Some users have noticed that, when setting an alarm for 3 pm, their device will say “3 am” instead. However, the alarm that was requested was set as desired.
Android Central’s Tech
These aren’t features I’ve personally used before, but browsing through several user comments, I can see that others have. There are some negative comments on Google’s thinking with its decision to cut off phone activities from automation next month. I hear where they’re coming from. These are features they’ve been using consistently for some time, and now they’re going away. The saddest thing is that these users are left without knowing Option Or solution. Hopefully, they get one.
