90% of the time Google Home responds with "Sorry, I do not understand."

[cajungirl337]

I am so tired of hearing "Sorry, I do not understand" from my Google Home. I ended up buying an Amazon Echo so that I can get actual answers! Will 1st gen Google Speakers be updated with Gemini so they aren't so dumb anymore, or should I just toss it in the trash?

p.s. The "Choose a Platform" didn't offer "Google Home speaker" as a choice, so I just put Android, even though it's my speaker and NONE OF CHOICES applied.

[WesleyK]

Same here.

[ByronP]

Hi Folks,

Thank you for reaching out to the community. I’m sorry to hear you’re having trouble with your Google Home and that every time you make a command it responds with, "Sorry, I do not understand". Also you’re wondering if the Google Home (1st Gen) will be updated with Gemini integration. I understand how frustrating this can be. I’m here to help.

For better assistance, please respond to the following questions:

• What type of Google Home Speaker do you have? (Here is an important article on how to identify your Google Home).
• What language do you use?
• Is your Google Home speaker powered on?
• What color is the LED status light at the back of your Google Home speaker?
• How long did the device work as intended before you experienced this symptom?
• How often does this happen?
• Does the success rate vary based on how far away you are from the device?
• If the success rate varies, what's the farthest distance (in feet) you can be from your Google Home speaker before it starts to fail?
• Does the same situation occur when others speak to the Google Home speaker?

Currently, the Gemini integration isn’t supported for Google Home (1st Gen); we’re always looking for ways to improve. Please consider sharing your insights and experiences by submitting them to the feedback form so we can improve them in future updates.

Please keep me posted on your findings.

Regards,

Byron

[cajungirl337]

I have the original Google Home. The first one pictured in this article

It started "dumbing down" about a year ago when AI started becoming more popular.

No, replies from Google Home don't affect distance.  This happens, like the title of this post, about 90% of the time. 

Will ALL speakers be updated with Gemini, including the original Google Home? 

[ByronP]

Hi cajungirl337,

Thank you for your reply. I appreciate the detailed information you provided.

Additionally, please respond to the following questions:

• What kind of environment does the device fail in? Examples: Is the environment noisy, normal, or quiet.
• Where is the device placed? Examples: Is the device by itself, up against the wall, next to a TV or audio speaker, next to a microwave?
• Is there anything that covers the device? (Example: If a child has decorated the speaker or display with stickers).

In the mean time, please follow these recommendations:

• Ensure that the two microphone holes on the top of the device aren't covered.
• Make sure the device is powered by the provided power cord and is plugged directly into a power outlet. Check the connections are secure (not loose).
• Reboot the device. Here are the steps:

1. Disconnect the power cable from your Google Home.
2. Leave it unplugged for approximately one minute.
3. Reconnect the power cable back into the Google Home and tested.

Please let me know how it goes.

Regards,

Byron

[marcolopes]

Welcome to the club!!!

BUGS / PROBLEMS / ERRORS... music not playing... playing the wrong music... ROUTINES NOT EXECUTING... and so on, and so on (just take a look at this community!)

I face this "I don't understand" EVERY DAY! I gave UP until Google Gemini HOME rollout. I thought it would be the big saviour of the Google Nest ecosystem... but guess what? I've seen the latest NEWS following the Google Home APP "Gemini is coming soon..." and now it's clear!!!

Gemini for Home is only available (for now) on the USA with a $10 MONTLHY subscription!!!

Sure... Are you going to apply those values to EUROPE??? Nonsense! We don't make 100.000 a YEAR!

So... no plans to give access to Gemini through the NEST Speakers of existing users with no subscription??

Are we stuck with obsolete, NON WORKING devices, full of BUG and problems, that don't even work with the most BASIC tasks??

That's the way to go Google!!! 

[cajungirl337]

OMG, really? I would love it if a Google rep would answer this thread for us!! lol

I forgot to mention, it also reverts back to CELCIUS when I ask for weather, even though I have told it a milion times to  ALWAYS USE FAHRENHEIT!!   When I ask Alexa the same questions, she answers!! So I may just switch over to Amazon's products!!!!

[marcolopes]

My devices are almost useless... i now just use them to play music, and EVEN now we have a problem that was introduced 3 TIMES over the past 2 years!! https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Speakers-and-Displays/Google-Assistant-not-playing-ROUTINES-a...

Try asking "her" your age!!! lol

[marcolopes]

A google "rep" will do you no good!

I contribute so much to this community that i get my cases OPENED and followed by the support team. They are very friendly, but there is not much they can do (when there is no reboot / reset, whatever than can fix a SERVER SIDE / FIRMWARE problem!)

So... they just pass the info to the tech teams and hope for the best...

Meanwhile, 50% of the time the devices "don't work" properly!

It's been the most exhausting 2 years since i bought several Nest devices (mainly speakers)...