Loss of Continued Conversation on Home Devices After Gemini Switch

[Adrock]

I’m writing to express deep frustration with the recent change from Google Assistant to Gemini on my smart-home devices.

Before this forced transition, Google Assistant included a free and essential feature called Continued Conversation, which allowed the Assistant to listen for several seconds after a response for follow-up commands. This made interactions feel natural and fluid, exactly what a voice assistant is supposed to do.

Now that my devices have been switched to Gemini, that same feature has effectively been removed and replaced by Gemini Live, which is only available through a paid Home Premium subscription. In other words, I’ve lost functionality that was previously built into my devices unless I pay an additional $10 per month.

This feels like one step forward and two steps back. Users never had the choice to remain on Google Assistant, and yet a feature that has worked for years is suddenly being treated as a “premium” option. It’s beyond disappointing — it feels unfair and, frankly, deceptive.

From a consumer standpoint, this raises serious concerns:

Google devices were marketed and sold with “Continued Conversation” as part of their advertised functionality.

Users purchased these devices with the expectation that such features were included as part of the product experience.

Removing this capability and putting its replacement behind a paywall feels like a breach of trust, if not bordering on misleading business practice.

I already pay for a Google One subscription, and I strongly believe that Gemini Live should at least be included in that plan, or better yet, offered free to all users as a continuation of the functionality we already had.

Please reconsider this policy. Don’t penalize loyal users for adopting Gemini — especially when the “new” feature simply replaces something that used to be free.

[metroknowm]

• 1 - From whom did you hear this?
• 2 - How much specifically?
• 3 - It is irrelevant that Google cites this as a significant cost. They should not change use cases completely which they have. Even if they must, they believe, hide a continuous conversation mode behind a paywall, it should support the exact same use cases as it did previously, plus additional use cases. All of these features should be clearly stated as well and are not. This is a very slippery and abstract way of addressing product as a service creation.

[tmorehouse]

https://www.pcmag.com/news/why-being-polite-to-chatgpt-is-costing-openai-millions-and-wasting-electr...

https://kutv.com/news/offbeat/price-ai-etiquette-openai-ceo-being-polite-chat-bots-costs-millions-en...

[metroknowm]

Thanks for the source. While this isn't Google, it's clear that disabling continuous conversation by default is likely due somewhat to computing cost, but that is an absolutely terrible choice on their behalf. I think they will realize this eventually. 

If they want to charge for continuous conversation, then charge for a continuous conversation. Don't hide it behind a separate command that nobody will ever use and that is a completely different trained command concept than their normal command. Simply state, "Due to high costs, Continuous Conversation will be a premium feature as of XX/XX/XX." Implement it as it was previously, provide a time window for this adoption transition, and then charge for it.

[pgrey]

I think Google is backed into a bit of a corner with this one.  They want to deploy the AI context to a lot of things, because it's buzzy right now, but they know the costs of that are very high, and won't scale.

So, they're trying out a subscription, putting certain features in this context, hoping people will get frustrated and subscribe and/or update their Devices (all of our Home Devices are what they consider "older context" at this point, a few Nest displays and similar).

This is a mess, for everyone, but it's of Google's making, and anyone's guess how they sort it.  I'm not sure there's much to keep them from abandoning a chunk of things, there's no laws or similar (in the US anyway).  What if all of our Assistant linked Devices connectivity stopped, then what?  Belkin is abandoning ALL of their older WEMO outlets, switches and similar, not good press, but they're all dead, as of 1/31/26, so there's that (as an example).

[tmorehouse]

Chatting with the Text Based Gemini resulted in this summary:

The transition to Gemini for Home in early 2026 was reported by many users as
mandatory. Although Google initially offered a choice, server-side updates in
January 2026 made the upgrade mandatory for many accounts.

Reasons for the Mandatory Switch

• Mandatory Transition: Google began retiring the legacy Google Assistant engine
  for smart speakers, with a final server shutdown planned for March 31, 2026.
• Removal of "Not Now" Option: Recent app updates replaced the "Not Now" or
  "Opt-Out" options with a mandatory "Continue" or "Get Started" screen. This was
  to ensure users were on the new Gemini-powered architecture before the legacy
  servers were deactivated.
• Subscription Links: If you pay for Google Home Premium or AI Pro, the system
  often treats the Gemini upgrade as a required "feature update". This is to
  justify the increased subscription cost.

Why Google has failed with Gemini Home Assistant

The fragmentation and support failures experienced in early 2026 are largely the result of Google’s recent "organizational consolidation," which has unintentionally deepened silos rather than removing them.

Reasons for System "Silos"

• Forced Departmental Mergers: In 2024 and 2025, Google merged the Android, Pixel, and Nest/Home hardware divisions into a single "Platforms & Devices" group. This resulted in staff turnover and the departure of key leaders. Remaining teams manage legacy Nest code alongside new Gemini AI without adequate overlap.
• The "Two-Brain" Problem: Gemini for Home operates with a "split personality." One team manages the Gemini LLM, and another team maintains the Assistant "Actions". When a command is given, it often fails because these two internal systems do not communicate properly.
• Support Disconnect: Customer service is fragmented because Google Home now touches Search (Gemini), Subscriptions (Google One/Premium), and Hardware (Nest). A Gemini specialist cannot fix a Nest hardware link, and a Nest agent often lacks the technical "permissions" to troubleshoot your AI Pro subscription, resulting in the convoluted "handoff" loop.

Why the Gemini Rollout Feels "Half-Baked"

• Feature Parity Gaps: Google prioritized the "AI transition" over functional stability. As of 2026, Gemini still lacks "feature parity" with the old Assistant. It excels at conversation but frequently fails at tasks like timers, routines, and third-party device control.
• Paywalled Features: Many users are frustrated that previously free features have been moved behind the Google Home Premium paywall as part of the Gemini integration.
• Legacy Hardware Abandonment: In late 2025, Google officially ended support for 1st and 2nd Gen Nest Thermostats, unpairing them from the app entirely. If automation relies on older hardware, the Gemini update may have permanently disabled those links.

[pgrey]

Those aren't really reliable sources of news, just FYI.  

While it's true that Continued Conversation costs exist, in EITHER context, GA or Gemini, the actual cost is a bit more murky.  ANY time you make a query like this, voice, typed into Google, Bing, OpenAI, whatever context, it uses a TON of resources and is expensive, this is why there's such concern about a bubble, because most of it is NOT self-supporting, and there's no clear way to make it such (or to reduce this overhead, beyond increasing efficiency).  

[metroknowm]

To be clear, paying for it doesn't unlock continued conversation. "Let's Chat" functionality is quite different, and your use cases may be quite different, too. For example, it doesn't support Google home commands whatsoever. It's a major problem.

[CherylT]

The loss of free continued conversation is my biggest regret for upgrading. I waited for several weeks before taking the plunge, and I only did it because I thought it might fix two issues that started happening on Google Home. First, the option to replay a song stopped working on my speaker, with it still works in my Nest Hub. Second, asking Google Home to repeat what it said suddenly resulted in "I can't remember what I said." DUMB! I thought Gemini Home you fix that, but it didn't, and now it's dumber than it was before without the continued conversation. They need to fix this ASAP!

[Bradybunch]

You are so correct. You said it like a champ. I am so very upset about this one step forward and two steps back. I'm getting tired of saying the Wake words over and over when most times I speak to my Google home mini assistant. I follow up with continued questions. This is ridiculous and as you said I believe I've been defrauded. I had what I paid for and they took it away after the fact. Thank you for articulating it so well. I'm not that good with words.

[TheShortman]

It's annoying. I've been using both Google Home and Alexa devices for a few years. Watching both evolve, and seeing the relative weaknesses. This inconvenience won't stop my use of the Google Home devices I have because they are still very useful. But I'm not upgrading these as I am with my Alexa devices. For my uses, Alexa is better at everything, even answering questions.

[mikefort]

I couldn't be more disappointed! The Continued Conversation feature was one of the reasons I went with Google a long time ago. Amazon Alexa didn't offer it back then. I have a Google Nest Hub, Google Home, Google Nest Audio, and more Mini's than I'm willing to admit. The ole' bait and switch, I guess. Even if we do pay for what was once standard, the prompt becomes, "Hey Google, let's chat" if you want continued conversation. That sucks.

Also, Google, let us have the option of "Gemini" as a prompt, or even "hey Gemini". Anybody else on board with this..? Quite the ego there, Google. I don't hear anybody saying "hey Amazon"...

In my opinion, anybody entering into the market for one of these devices who does an ounce of research will absolutely be going with Amazon Alexa. 

[Bradybunch]

But continued conversation was the most important feature for me too. I had it for free and they took it away with an upgrade. I feel like I've been defrauded. They take one step forward and two steps back. I am upset with Google indeed

[Rob863]

I totally hate google right now. As it was, I was sick and tired of having to say hey google to wake it. They are so enamored with their name, or insecure, that they feel the need for people to say it out loud in their homes. Amazon at least gives its system a human name. And now we have to say it every time we have a follow up question?! or else pay a monthly fee for it when it was free for us before? Long time loyal users like myself are getting screwed. Alexa also has this "follow up" feature that you can enable for free. I think it is time to switch out all my home assistants. F.U. google 

[RomingGnome]

If Google doesn't fix the "continued conversation" feature, where you don't have to say,  "Hey Google, let's chat" then I'm going to switch to the Home Assistant version and just go with that one instead, and get rid of Google Home completely.

[Royalh]

I wonder if this can be added to the latest class action lawsuit against google for their home devices...
"www.androidcentral.com/accessories/smart-home/class-action-lawsuit-filed-against-google-over-home-an..."

[Harshemesh]

• I feel the same and I'm very disappointed. Seriously thinking of switching to Alexa it is definitely a bridge of trust!!

[elagrew]

Absolutely SPOT ON!  Google?  Are you listening?  I am NEVER going to upgrade my Google devices for my home.  I will switch to Amazon before that happens.  Google will Lose my business.  I am hoping more people will take that stance because what Google is doing is just NOT RIGHT.  #FAIL

[Aviedo]

It was a low down sneaky deception. It was not revealed before transitioning to Gemini!  Had I known I was going to lose the continued conversation/ fluid speech feature I would not have transitioned from Google Assistant to Gemini. 

[elagrew]

I agree.  This is how Google now operates.  Even though their motto is "Do no Evil.", they seem to be going evil all for a buck. Sad.  Good Luck!

[pgrey]

They removed that part of the motto for "Do the right thing", which is much more open to interpretation, IMO. 

Recently moved older Home units to Gemini, not so impressed between this and BIG response delays.  Might move to HA and/or revert to Alexa, tough call... 

[elagrew]

Either way you look at it, it's just not right. Google has left the rails and has gone rogue. Bah bye!  Good luck to everyone who's switched to Gemini. It's going to be a bumpy ride. LoL 

[tmorehouse]

This forced conversion to Gemini is frustrating.  Simple tasks like asking it the current weather, and then (in continued conversion mode) asking what tomorrow will be like is no longer possible without having to start the whole thing as "Hey google Lets chat".  I don't want to chat.  I just wanted answers.  Similar when controlling home automation devices.  Device (Light, thermostat, camera) control under "Hey Google Lets Chat" mode doesn't work.  you have to break out of that mode by saying "Hey Google" in front of each automation command.  So F**king annoying.  Makes me want to take a sledge hammer to all my nest minis and nest hubs.

And for some stupid reason it keeps answering that "two vacuums are off" when I didn't ask anything about vacuums.

[devz]

Exactly that. 

[pgrey]

Yeah, this is nuts.  Turn a light(s) on, then adjust the level, used to be two consecutive commands with follow-up, now two separate commands, if lucky.  

I've had it ask me twice now "what do you want to do with the movie lights", instead of just turning them on, simply, as GA used to do.  Just turn them on, seems simple enough, or it was...

[robxb]

Agreed.. it is so very disappointing to keep having basic long-free features stripped away and paywalled. I can do it on my phone, so why not my nest devices? Now we have to annoyingly keep saying Hey Google to resume where we left off. When we all purchases these devices, there was no talk about paywalls to use them (maybe deep in the fine print, but they know nobody actually reads though the terms of service). The ensh*tification continues!

[tmorehouse]

What is even more annoying is when the Gemini Artificial Idiot asks you to confirm an action by saying yes or no, I now have to say "hey google yes" instead of the simpler and more natural "yes" that I could do with the old Google Assistant. I think Google is just trying to piss customers off enough to force them to pay $10/month. Only for the customers to end up being even more annoyed by having to ask "Hey Google lets chat" to initiate continued conversation.

[pgrey]

Yeah, this is part of what caused me to de-enroll (hopefully).

Even if you are okay with the paywall for existing features, you can't use Continued-Conversation to confirm controls with Gemini, as the so-called Chat mode is excluded from any sort of Device control.

What a %@#$% mess...

[metroknowm]

I pay for the new Gemini Home premium functionality and never use it because it is useless to me. Over 99% of my use cases are home automation based commands, and the let's chat functionality doesn't support these, neither will I ever say "let's chat" in order to execute home commands. Why would I? This is a major impediment to home automation. It's absolute nonsense. 

In addition to examining legal remedies, we need to figure out how to hack the new implementation with an IFTT or similar script command that basically forces a follow-up "hey google" behind the scenes automatically everytime the assistant completes an answer.

[pgrey]

I de-enrolled from the Preview last night, hopefully this will go through.  

I gave up after two nights of having to tell Gemini what I want to do with the lights, that was too much (don't recall a single instance of this with GA).  The lack of ability to use follow-up to do something simple, just adjust light-levels, ask about temperatures in a couple of hours, etc., all of this sort of did me in.  I hope I can park on GA for a bit, before this is forced (assuming I can get back to GA as the Home app seemed to indicate was still possible).

[elagrew]

I did have one instance last night where I asked for done information and after the answer from Gemini, I reflexively said, "Thank you Google" and Gemini answered, "You're welcome".  I almost feel out of my chair that I didn't have to say, " Hey Google...". I'm trying to duplicate that behavior, so it might have been a fluke.