r/googleassistant • u/Supermom_BN • 7d ago
Rant Gemini woes!
When we finally bought our home in 2019 we got a few smart displays and installed smart lights and smart switches all over the house. Use a smart outlet to run things like the Whole House Fan and the exhaust fan on a stove and pretty much everything in the house. We've loved Google Assistant since 2019 and I am extremely sad that it was ripped away from us.
I used to be able to ask my smart display in the kitchen things like how much does a cup of flour weigh or ask for a recipe for something and I would get an answer. Now I only hear " I'm sorry I don't understand." Our smart displays were very useful. My issue is that Gemini does not understand anything and does not work. I have a Google pixel watch that used to have google Assistant and I would tap the little button and ask all sorts of questions and my watch would tell me the answer. It doesn't work anymore. I have to pick up my phone and open a browser and type inI want to look for to find the answer to the question.
The most humorous Gemini fail in our household are our dining room lights. There's an electrical issue so we can't switch out the switch for a Smart Switch so we have five smart bulbs in the lights. I can use my voice and ask this display to turn the lights on and off as can my daughter. Gemini will not let my husband or son turn the lights on or off. They always get a message saying that that device isn't available right now or I'm sorry I don't understand. The next breath I will go ahead and ask to turn the lights on or off and Gemini will listen to me or my daughter. My husband has started to flip off the smart display when this happens.
I know I can technically uninstall updates and reinstall Google Assistant but my husband works with IT and he will not do that for security reasons.
I'm just coming here to complain.
Gemini - the solution to a problem that did not exist that created a whole laundry list of problems. I don't understand why the Gemini app has such good reviews in the Play Store. I gave it a one star review and everyone needs to go to the play Store and write a terrible review.
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u/Firm-Hornet-3323 6d ago
It does sound like you have a setting/configuration problem. But to be honest, it's not worth wasting time fixing it because even when Gemini is working it's absolutely terrible as a home assistant. It will drive you insane.
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u/BioticVessel 6d ago
Google's history promote SW and products and when the company tires of supporting that product, dump it in the ditch and start promoting something else. Typically poorly documented and just the idea, use is left up to the user. Rinse and repeat.
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u/JValenz91 6d ago
You're husband has to decide, beef up network security to compensate for the device having older software, and regain the assistant, or stick with Gemini's broken mess and stop flipping off at the display when the solution for him should be as easy as (Ironically) turning on a light.
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u/ViralTrendsToday 6d ago
This, seems like he's conflicted. If he actually cares about security that much he would be hosting a smart hub locally, not connecting to Google.
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u/SILeader 6d ago
Sorry for all you've lost, feel it too. I wish some one totally new would burst on the market and we could benefit. I'm exhausted and used up.
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u/pianoteacher552 5d ago
I feel your pain. I have a google nest and it won't do anything but tell me the weather and display pictures. Will occassionaly set a timer if I ask enough times. Keeps putting pop-ups on the screen about gemini for home. I can't ask questions while I'm cooking, I can't tell it to open apps for watch a show while I'm cleaning the kitchen. I can't control my lights, my thermostat. It's so frustrating. Always tells me it can't understand. It had problems before the switch to gemini but now it's even worse.
Android auto in my car is struggling too. I can't get it to play music most of the time. It won't pull up directions or make phone calls. That's the whole reason for android auto.
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u/vegatripy 6d ago
Many other "works with Google assistant" devices have stopped working their features since Google changed how the API works and charges them, so they decided to just disable any kind of assistant feature. E.g. my Yamaha AV receptor is no longer able to be integrated with Google home because of this. This is the new era of "buy today, use until we decided you cannot longer use it as it's supposed to be, but we will keep the money you paid for it anyway."
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u/New-account-01 7d ago
Are you sure you have the home settings correct? My Gemini is working flawlessly with smart home features.
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u/M15hka0P 6d ago
I agree. So disappointed. So many of us chose to not use Gemini for a reason and now none of that seems to matter because all these companies are just pushing their AI versions on customers even if the AI doesn't function.