In a strategic move announced just ahead of next week’s Made by Google 2024 event, Google confirmed that its Assistant would remain a staple feature, particularly within the Home/Nest ecosystem. This announcement comes amid speculation about the future of smart assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa, which both saw a surge in popularity during the pandemic but have since experienced a slowdown.
The idea that the smart home market is dead is an exaggeration. Smart home devices, from doorbell cameras to smart thermostats, are still widely used. However, the vision of a fully automated, interconnected home has not become a reality for most people. High costs and fragmented ecosystems have hindered widespread adoption. Many consumers, frustrated by inconsistent experiences across different devices and platforms, have become wary.
Smart assistants themselves have faced challenges. Competitors like Samsung’s Bixby and Microsoft’s Cortana have disappeared, and even Apple’s Siri has seen less promotion. The rise of generative AI platforms like ChatGPT has made traditional smart assistants seem outdated. Earlier this year, Google began allowing beta users to make its generative AI platform, Gemini, the default assistant on Pixel devices. This move suggested that the days of Google Assistant were limited.
Despite these shifts, Google has reassured users that Assistant will continue to play a crucial role in its smart home ecosystem. Alongside new hardware announcements, such as a Learning Thermostat and a new streaming set-top box, Google revealed that Assistant, supported by Gemini models, would remain integral to its Home devices.
The specific role of Gemini in enhancing Assistant is yet to be fully detailed, but it’s clear that natural language processing will be a key area of improvement. Google emphasized that users would no longer need to phrase their questions in a particular way. For example, users could ask, “Is Pluto a planet?” and then follow up with, “Could they change their minds again?” This natural conversation capability is where generative AI like Gemini excels.
Additional features powered by Gemini will include summarizing information, a central aspect of Google’s efforts to integrate generative AI into its search services. These improvements are expected to roll out later this year for Nest Aware subscribers as part of a public preview.
The future branding of Google Assistant remains uncertain. Google might choose to rename it to Gemini, similar to how Apple has rebranded its AI enhancements under the Apple Assistant moniker. What is clear is that Google is committed to evolving its smart home technology, ensuring that Assistant continues to offer robust and intuitive support to its users.
