In the last months, Google Nest speaker users have encountered unpredictable responses and commands that are simply ignored.What was once a smooth and reliable interaction with the Google Assistant has now become a constant source of frustration. From simple household commands not being executed correctly to nonsensical responses, forums and social media have been flooded with complaints from those who use these devices daily in their homes.
Google has acknowledged the problem: The reliability of the Assistant on devices like Nest speakers has dropped significantly., especially in tasks related to controlling smart devices. The company has publicly apologized, stating that it is aware of its community's discontent and is working intensively on a solution.
A complicated outlook for Google Nest speakers
Numerous testimonials collected on Reddit and other tech forums demonstrate the magnitude of the problem: Commands that previously worked perfectly now fail, are delayed, or are simply ignored.Some users report that they've ordered a light to turn on… and another device turns on instead, or they receive generic responses like "Sorry, try again later." Others report that their speaker responds differently to the same command depending on who's using it, which is even more confusing.
Situations can be as surreal as trying to play music in one room and hear it in another, or asking your Nest speaker to turn off one light and then having all the lights in your home turn off at the same time. These bugs particularly affect older generations of Nest and Google Home., although the bugs appear to have spread to recent models as well according to community feedback.
Many point to the origin of this deterioration as being due to Google's transition to its new artificial intelligence, Gemini, temporarily destabilizing the functioning of its traditional assistant. The company's lack of technical details leaves this hypothesis open, although the truth is that the discomfort is widespread among users.
Public recognition and promise of improvements
Faced with the avalanche of complaints, Google has come forward through Anish Kattukaran, product director of Google Home and NestIn a post on the social network X (formerly Twitter), he acknowledged the problems and assured those affected that the team is aware of the seriousness of the situation. The message is clear: “We hear you loud and clear and we are committed to fixing it.We've been working on major improvements for some time, and more information will be available soon.
While the reaction has been well received, the solution will not come immediatelyEverything seems to indicate that we'll have to wait until fall to find out what's new. Google will likely take advantage of a major event, such as the unveiling of its new Pixel series, to announce specific details about the update to its assistant and Nest speakers.
Meanwhile, the user community continues to face reliability issues and erratic performance on their devices. There is no official data on possible temporary solutions beyond the classic restarts or disconnections, which in most cases do not resolve the underlying problem.
Gemini on the horizon: Google's future of the connected home?
The integration of Gemini, the new artificial intelligence developed by Google, is shaping up to be one of the biggest changes for the brand's smart device ecosystem. The promise is clear: better understanding of commands, smoother interaction, and advanced automation that allows users to control lights, plugs, music, and all kinds of home gadgets with a naturalness never seen before. To further enhance the experience, we invite you to learn about the best skills for Alexa that can complement your smart home.
However, in actual practice, this transition appears to have caused unexpected instability in the user experience of the Google Nest speaker. Expectations are that the improvements announced for the fall will restore user confidence., something fundamental for the development of the connected smart home.
For those who rely on Google Assistant in their daily lives, the current situation is inconvenient, but the company has acknowledged the problem and is working to resolve it. In the coming months, we'll likely learn more details about the updates and new features Gemini will bring to the Nest ecosystem.
Many households are hoping that, with the next update, their devices will regain their former reliability. Until then, they'll have to be patient and trust that Google will fulfill its commitment to improvement.
