Google Home assistant is getting worse and worse

[Thomas10]

I am about to replace all my google home units as the assistant is getting more and more "stupid".

I have a created a long playlist called "Richard Freeman Thomas list", and to my amusement, the assistant more often than not is not able to understand this - giving answers ranging from "not able to find device to play movie", to playing some random songs whose name is not resembling Richard Freeman at all. Even saying "Hey Google, play Richard Freeman Thomas list on youtube music" is not working properly (on average I have to try 4-5 times before the assistant gets it - this is the frustrating part and why I consider to move to Apple/Amazon).

Also, even though I speak English, the two speakers bought in Norway want to interpret my voice in Norwegian. The rest of my speakers, bought in the US, interpret English, so the mixed salad here is terrible. Setting language in the Assistant setting doesn't make any difference.

After having google home devices for several years, I was happy with how it worked (it was delightful when it came out :), but now it seems like google is falling behind greatly. I recently switched from Android to iPhone, and Siri rocks. Everything I say is understood by Apple's assistant. It is sad to have bet on the wrong horse.

[Mobileaccessori]

I have a made a long playlist called "Richard Freeman Thomas list", and to my entertainment, the associate as a general rule can't figure out this - offering responses going from "not ready to track down gadget to play film", to playing a few arbitrary melodies whose name isn't looking like Richard Freeman by any means. In any event, saying "Hello Google, play Richard Freeman Thomas list on youtube music" isn't working as expected (on normal I need to attempt 4-5 times before the colleague gets it - this is the baffling part and why I consider to move to Apple/Amazon).

[Mattb88]

Yep, this has been noticed by media outlets that Google home is becoming more and more useless. Google have never officially announced this, but it'll be a backend change to the speech 2 text model they use to a cheaper one. 

[Dan_A]

Hi everyone,

This is not the experience we want you to have; let us help you. A few questions: which Nest speakers are we working with? When did your issue begin? Were there any recent changes made?

It would help a lot if you could do a sequential reboot first: 

1. Unplug the power cord from your router, followed by your Nest speakers.
2. Plug them back in after 3 minutes.
3. Restarting your phone might also help.

Also, try to change the name of your playlist and make it simpler to see if that makes a difference.

If the issue persists, let’s revert your device back to its default settings by doing a factory reset. Depending on your device, follow the steps in this link and tell us how it goes.

Best,

Dan

[Mattb88]

Google Mini, Nest Hub, Nest Hub Max. 

It's been getting significantly worse over the last twelve months:

I'm never investing in Google's smart home ecosystem again (androidauthority.com)

[Dan_A]

Hi folks,

Apologies for the delay and the inconvenience you’re having. Could you please send us the firmware versions of your Nest devices? Follow the steps below:

1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
2. Touch and hold your device's tile.
3. Tap Settings  and then Device information.
4. Under "Technical information," check for Cast firmware: "X.XXX.XXXXX." If the device is on Fuchsia, check for System firmware version: "X.XXXXXXXX.X.XXXXXXX"

Check the version on your Nest display"

1. Swipe up from the bottom of the display screen.
2. Tap Settings  and then About device. You should find your "Cast firmware version."
   1. For Nest Hub (1st gen) and Nest Hub Max: If “Fuchsia Version” is also listed, this means your device runs Fuchsia.

Looking forward to your response.

Regards,

Dan

[Thomas10]

This should be unnecessary. We are talking about devices that are connected to the internet and fully controlled by google (they can push out updates at will).

For me I have figured out the issue: Two languages! When having more than one language google struggles big time to understanding what language you are talking and mixes things up. When disabling the second language and only use English, it finally understood "Richard Freeman".

However, this morning, it failed to interpret "play frank sinatra". It starts to play "music". I tried this four times with the same result. Next I went into a new room and said the same, and it this room (which had a newer speaker), it understood. I continue to think this service is degrading.....

[Muddi]

Hey everyone,

Sorry for the delayed response. To confirm, have you tried connecting your speaker to a different network to check if you have the same issue? Also, what is the make and model of your router?

Cheers,

Muddi

[Muddi]

Hi folks,

My apologies for the lack of updates here. I'll forward this to the team, and I'll get back on this thread as soon as I have an information to share.

Cheers,

Muddi

[Maks-Zbogar]

I also have many devices Google Home mini,  Google Home nest, so asking for a serial is funny. I also have an issue with ALL Google Home devices. They ALL became slow, unresponsive and understand Less every day. When Google home doesn't understand me and it plays wrong radio station, ask Google: "Hey Google, STOP" many times, but it doesn't stop playing wrong RADIO station. Then I shut it down by unpluging cable from device. When I turn it on, Google Home starts responding on my previous commands and replies: "Nothing is playing right now..." multiple times. How stupid is that?!

[FirePichai]

Dan, I know this degradation of performance is not your fault -- but please don't pretend that you and your colleagues are unaware that Google Home is getting worse and worse while falling behind the competition more and more. Pretty sad. 

[Clubby]

Hi Dan,

The Google responses are basic and look like stalling tactics to finding an answer.

If the "smart" speaker / Google Nest isn't responding correctly, and a lot of users are complaining, then the answer isn't in the serial number/software model (over 99% of devices auto-update anyway) of the devices.

The resolution is needed in the service the devices are connected to.

Maybe setup a poll to obtain user feedback.

[frewys]

I used Google Home for years. I also feel less and less responsive/accurate action or none at all from them. I have 4. The latest issue I have now is when I ask it to play my daily news it actually gets confused by the NPR that is first in my news list and wants to do something with what the speaker is saying like start some random music or get very confused with some unexpected error message

[FirePichai]

Thomas, sadly you summed it up perfectly: it is sad to have bet on the wrong horse. If you had told me in 2019, when I first started investing in Home products, that the performance would somehow be WORSE in 2023, I genuinely wouldn't have believed you. Alas, actual customer experience seems to be a low priority for Mr. Pichai, as I genuinely believe this neglect of product improvement, despite them being such a big part of the average user's daily life, starts at the very top. I'd definitely accept domination by AI Bots if it meant my **bleep** Google Home Assistant understood even the most basic requests that I make of it.

The doozy of an issue I'm having today is that it's telling me I can't manage any of my devices because my phone is not on the same WiFi network, despite the fact that my Google Pixel is most definitely connected (through my multiple Google Nest Mesh WiFi points) to the same network. Truly maddening. Class action forthcoming? 

[kmitchpg]

Google Home takes many, many tries to do a simple thing like turn on the lights in a room. 'There is a glitch' is the usual answer and it's driving me mad. Also my Pixel 7 Pro sometimes responds to 'Ok Google' and sometimes doesn't.....Surely that's a fault! 

[DS3]

Likewise the most regular response I get is the glitch one. Also an increasing number of times speakers in other rooms are then picking up that instruction. Two pairs of Nest Audio speakers I have in main rooms for stereo stopped pairing months ago. It should not be so hard. 

[Wintermint]

I totally agreed with you Thomas. My google nest is also pretty much useless. I’m also using iPhone now and Siri is perfect I speak once and she understand me clearly.. me too is also going to switch to apple home pod mini

[Maks-Zbogar]

I have one Google Home Nest and Amazon Echo Show 8 next to it in the kitchen and second Google Home Nest and Amazon Echo Show 5 next to it in my bedroom. After Google Home Nest doesn't do what I ask him to do, Alexa does right after I ask her. Google Home Nest keeps showing there is no internet connection every few minutes, which is stupid, since Amazon Echo next to it streams radio station from TuneIn. Far the best of all my smart devices is my Apple iPhone Siri and far the worst are all Google Home devices which became dumb bricks in last half year. What a shame for Google!

[DrEggman]

I thought I was the only one! Seriously, what's going on? My most common problem is....

Hey Google, play some music.

Ok. Playing Muse from YouTube Music on Garage

Hey Google, stop.

There are several devices you can stop, and lists them all, including the Garage it just played it on 🤦 

Yesterday we asked for the jigsaw lights to be turned off, no idea what she heard, but she ended up giving us directions to Milton Keynes! Strangely a Google Hub two rooms away somehow heard the right command and turned the lights off anyway 🤷 

[Aj_outdoors]

I have noticed it too, I will ask it to play music and it won't give me anywhere near what I asked for. It sometimes take multiple tries or I give up and just do it myself on my phone.

Also used to have it say my name or nickname at certain stages and has just stopped that. It's like it has stopped trying.

[Oliv3rDog]

Hi there... I am from Brazil and have 6 google nest devices, working the same way in portuguese you are telling here!!!

Worse and worse every day... 

The basic answer here is:

- Sorry, I did not understand!

Maybe Google is trying to add Bart or another AI to devices and has forgotten (or doesn't care) to make them work decently until the transition happens.

[Caitho]

It's getting so so horrible, my phone starts to answer while I'm in the same room as my nest mini, it did that 2 years ago, it seems to get worse and worse, now it seldom reacts to it's wake word, my nest is also bought in Norway, for a software company, this should be embarrassing. It keeps getting worse, and it is annoying me more than it is making my day easier. Is this a Norwegian issue ? It also keeps answering "beklager det forstod jeg ikke" even though both the wake words (ok Google or hey Google) and the command is in English. I really consider ordering the PCB that makes the assistant a openAI chatgpt bot instead of the useless Google assistant ! It's become a laughing stock when I have friends over ..  google not doing smart home or internet search right is embarrassingly ironic for google ! Get it right or give up ! It's just flat out useless, gmmb (Give me my money back) and I'll trash this useless hockey puck consuming power and recording without the wake word spoken or the pling sound to let you know it's recording.. 

[KatR]

When are these devices going to use basic AI tech to improve? Is this on the horizon? Literally the only think I want AI to help me with is like playing music. Lately my devices won’t even stop when I ask them to stop playing. My internet hasn’t changed nor has my ISP but these devices won’t even respond at all for simple commands or rituals anymore. 

[BThor]

All of my Google Display and the Google Home app on my Adroid have become almost useless the last few months.  The loose connection and status to my 3rd party apps, they don't response to my commands, they can't even play music casted from my phone via YouTube Music anymore.  I'm about ready to unplug them all and trash can them.  So frustrating. 

[BThor]

I have many GOOG displays, minis, and Home app integrated with lots of 3rd party devices.  In the last couple of months I've had to revert back to the 3rd app (e.g. GE Cync) just to control my devices.  GOOG Home loose connection and status of the device constantly and throw the most annoying errors even when it can control the device.  I'm about ready to ditch all my GOOG display and go back to Alexia.