topic Re: Google Home doesn't understand time questions in Speakers and Displays

Google Home doesn't understand time questions

SunnyRio — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 18:03:50 GMT

I cannot get my Home to understand a simple question like "What time will it be in 11 hours 40 minutes". Then I try a shorter time, 2 hours 40. And it works. Try 11 again, doesn't work. Try my phone instead, works perfectly. Try the Home again, works perfectly every time. What's going on here? Does it somehow learn? Should I just keep asking repeatedly if it says "Sorry I didn't understand"?

By the way, is there a way to turn off those stupid "but I found something else" things? If it doesn't understand me, I need to reword it, not wait for something irrelevant, say no, then start again.

Also, to troubleshoot this, I tried to look at my history, and the phone app "Home" in "Activity" shows "no events recorded" for every day. So I can't see what the two devices heard. However if I go to Settings, Privacy, etc, I see the questions asked to the phone, but not the Home.

Re: Google Home doesn't understand time questions

SmartHomeH-TAGS — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 18:19:58 GMT

Re: Google Home doesn't understand time questions

SunnyRio — Sun, 09 Mar 2025 20:12:53 GMT

Cloud connection problem (I hate the word issue used incorrectly) doesn't make sense. It either connects or not, if not, it would say connection problem, not "I don't understand".

The wording also really matters:

Your version "What's the Time in 11 hours and 40 minutes" converts it to minutes, which is insane! It's reading it like "what's 11 hours 40 in minutes".

My version "What time will it be in 11 hours 40 minutes" gives the correct answer.

Trouble is humans don't use the same words every time.

Re: Google Home doesn't understand time questions

ByronP — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:44:20 GMT

Hi SunnyRio,

Thank you for posting in the community. I'm sorry that your Google Home doesn't understand your time question correctly. I understand how frustrating this must be. Let's work together to find a solution.

For further assistance, please answer the following questions:

What type of Google Home do you have?
What language do you use?
How long did the device work as intended before experiencing this symptom?
How often does the problem occur?
If the device is triggered by touching the top touch panel for 3 seconds and the same public question is asked, does the speaker or display accurately answer the command?
Does the success rate vary depending on how far away you are from the device?
What kind of environment is the device in? Example: Noisy, normal, or quiet.
Where is the Google Home placed?

Please keep me posted. I'll look forward to your response.

Regards,

Byron

Re: Google Home doesn't understand time questions

SunnyRio — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 16:57:38 GMT

None of what you said has anything to do with the problem. Please read more carefully. It's the WORDING which matters.

But I'll answer them anyway:

What type of Google Home do you have?

Original Google Home, don't know the name, please tell me for future reference. It looks like:

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MO0bSOyme-4/WW1i_W170YI/AAAAAAAABPY/eqI6g1Y5HeoNOwAPgAFq6bm5h1mFQJe2ACLcBGAs/s1600/Home1.png

What language do you use?

English

How long did the device work as intended before experiencing this symptom?

Irrelevant, first time I've tried this sort of question.

How often does the problem occur?

Every time.

If the device is triggered by touching the top touch panel for 3 seconds and the same public question is asked, does the speaker or display accurately answer the command?

No, it still gets it wrong.

Does the success rate vary depending on how far away you are from the device?

No.

What kind of environment is the device in? Example: Noisy, normal, or quiet.

Noisy, but I tried it quiet, same problem.

Where is the Google Home placed?

A metre from my mouth (on the same table I'm typing on the computer at).

Back to the problem, it's the WORDING:

"What's the Time in 11 hours 40 minutes" converts it to minutes (I would expect to have said "what's 11 hours 40 minutes in minutes" for this answer).

"What time will it be in 11 hours 40 minutes" gives the correct answer.

"What time will it be in 11 hours and 40 minutes" it says it doesn't understand.

"What time will it be in 11 hours [[no and]] 40 minutes" gives the correct answer.

Re: Google Home doesn't understand time questions

ByronP — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 17:44:49 GMT

Hi SunnyRio,

Thank you for your prompt answer. I appreciate the detailed information and insights. I apologize for the misunderstanding. Let's explore additional options.

Please reboot your Google Home; here are the steps:

Unplug the power cord from the speaker or display.
Leave it unplugged for about one minute.
Plug the power cord back in.

Keep me posted on how it goes.

Regards,

Byron