Goodbye Google Assistant...Hello Bard? (OK, Gemini)

[@raymondbailey2142]

I used to be a Google Assistant user, but got fed up with unreliability. I have since switched to Alexa and have reduced my frustrations by about 75%.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Glad to hear you found a sweet spot!

[@BostonHollyAndSnoop]

I uninstalled everything Alexa in 2022. It was intrusive, disruptive and Proprietary. I had 2024U with AI returned that buggy phone. Somehow AI transferred to my S22U (wtf).

[@webidentity6138]

I have both Google and Alexa linked to everything in my home. Soon to be looking for a sister wife siri

[@jeremymardis5590]

​@@AutomateYourLifeDo you think Alexa is better, interested in your opinion.

[@jaynunes2501]

Brian, Thanks for summarizing all this new activity in the Google Assistant space. I agree, Bard is definitely the future, and I wouldn’t mind getting a few new speakers, but I definitely would want to have upgraded services to go along with them. Your video makes me hopeful that we’re going in that direction. Thanks!

[@AutomateYourLife]

Thanks Jay! We will get to watch how this all goes in the next half a year I think!

[@garethjones5068]

This is the sort of analysis you do better than any other creator I’m aware of. Google have years of form for killing product/service lines, ultimately I think there’s an identity crisis within Google about their smart home presence, whether it’s Bard or Google Assistant that is the brains at the core of their smart home offering, the lack of trust it has from consumers will hold back sales of hardware (in my opinion)

[@AutomateYourLife]

Thanks sir! And I agree. They've lost a lot of trust and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

[@yajtyler]

I'm okay with Assistant and Bard combined as one. I also think the name Gemini suits it better then Bard..

[@AutomateYourLife]

And since this research it looks like they'll go with Gemini :)

[@BonafideDG]

I had and used google assistant daily to send texts, make calls and start navigation while driving. Bard on my s20 cannot do this. And now they discontinued google assistant on my phone. Its ridiculous.

[@AutomateYourLife]

:(

[@c849243]

As an Alexa fanboy, I never miss your informative vids, no matter the topic.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Well thank you! But I have 2 things for you next week :)

[@brads2041]

​@@AutomateYourLifeplease please please! Hoping for a similar upgrade to my dumb (relatively speaking) alexa device.

[@MichaelDJRAHWilliams]

Yes, Bard will be available on Google Assistant! It was announced at the Made by Google '23 event in October 2023, and it's currently in the early stages of development. Here's what we know so far: What is it? Assistant with Bard is a new version of Google Assistant that combines Bard's generative AI capabilities with Assistant's existing features. This means you'll be able to interact with Assistant using text, voice, or even images, and Bard will be able to understand the context of your request and provide more helpful and personalized responses.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Yep! But it's Google so... They announced Matter Over Thread on their gear 2 years ago

[@questionmark_the_1st]

I wish Google assistant didnt leave. I don't care if gemini Is new. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO OPEN KZbin VIDEOS WITHOUT LOOKING FOR IT.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Truth. Give us the simple stuff we want to do. Then add in complex functions.

[@HansAramburo]

I think the problem with home automation is that for it to feel useful or for us to be satisfied, it needs to be Star Trek experience and 100 percent reliable. Once you have to hunt for the right phrase, or have a command fail that worked the day before, or reach for your phone because you gave up on the assistant, the experience is ruined. Overtime it starts to feel more and more gimmicky. Some of us make up for it by using sensors so that some of the automation happens without having to speak. I can say the only satisfying part of Google right now is having the outdoor lights come on at sunset and turn off at sunrise. That seems to work and if it occasionally fails, I probably wouldn't notice. I would give Google another chance if they wiped the slate clean and came out with more capable hardware using Bard. I would be hesitant about a subscription unless it's bundled with nest aware for a couple bucks more. We are all suffering from subscription overload.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Interesting thoughts Hans!

[@SmartHomeHASHTAGS]

I think the ability of NOT having to remember special phrases is the future of voice control. On my channel I have a couple of Google videos showing Quick one word commands and turning on or off devices by its description rather than its unique name. For example, all my fans have the name "Fan"

[@JoshsSmartHome]

Generative AI is very exciting. It will be interesting to see how Bard evolves and where it shows up!

[@AutomateYourLife]

Agreed!

[@ricdonato4328]

1:07 "...under utilized...", correction they were underused. FYI: Utilize is not a fancy way to say use, both use and utilize have different meanings and usages. Use means to consume from a limited supply or take something to achieve a result. Utilize means to use something beyond its intended purpose. Think of a chair, we use it to sit upon, however we can utilize it as a step stool. When folks use utilize it comes across as pompous and self-ingratiating.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Sure thing Ric. Thanks for the clarity! Never knew that at all. :) But I have to take this opportunity to make a joke! I hope you take it the right way. When folks come to a KZbin video to correct grammar or a minor issue, it comes across as pompous and self-ingratiating. Also when they use words like pompous and self-ingratiating...same.

[@doobydude420]

BTW loved your latest 2023 best of video. Watched it all. Judt found your channel 2 days ago and appreciate all the info you provide. Im good with tech but not amazing. Btw did you see the one prese censor that looks like a smoke detector and will track where up to 6 people (might be 5) are all around a room at once? Goes on the ceiling i believe. Blew my mind. Wasnt sure what the tech was called until your video began talking about presence sensors. I have govee, google, NEST, and WYZE products. I currentky use the wyze home security monitoring. Thanks to ex wife i know people are going to break into my parents. Judt not sure when. So need cheap but good tech to keep me aware of any intruders.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Ohhhh, I did see that one a while ago. Huge potential, but never got into all the platforms so you could automate really well with it. Can't remember the name...but it's somewhere in our channel's many videos lol :) And great to hear you enjoyed the big video!

[@tutacat]

You could already install the bard/gemini apk and it just worked. You can also use the web version anyway.

[@philipperostin]

I am still waiting for google to incorporate the nest fire detectors into google home !!! Imagine, they do own the dam company, and nevertheless still not incorporated into the home app ???? I have 3 of them (3 floors as I sais for the vaccum cleaners) and I do see them being totally ignored, month after month, year after year, and soon decade after decade lol ! On the other hand, seeing my Wyze cams live on the home page of google home is a sweet treat I did not ask for but still it appeared like a totally unplanned miracle !

[@AutomateYourLife]

We can dream about that one together Philippe. Nest Protects in Google Home... ☁☁

[@JunkfoodJunction]

Or how about being able to use Google Nest speakers with Google TV

[@UnknownLamppost]

RIGHT?!? What the crap is their problem with this? I've been so frustrated with having to go back and forth between the Nest and Home app. Even products made by OTHER COMPANIES show up in the Home app! There is no excuse for this.

[@1MarkKeller]

Not to mention, they need to integrate total control of the original Nest doorbells as well.

[@seethebutter]

I am done with them@@AutomateYourLife

[@MarcelElsaesser-uj1re]

Hi Brian, thanks for giving us a well rounded view aswell as insightful predictions on googles development. I know it has become more and more difficult to be excited for them, and they seem to have strayed far from their customers interest. Still its great to have you to interpret, since communicating really isn't googles strong suit. Its giving me hope that my assistant of choice might still serve me for a little longer.

[@AutomateYourLife]

My pleasure! Thank you!

[@davekmkm]

Great content as always liking the new format

[@AutomateYourLife]

Thanks so much!😃

[@steveh714]

Well done review and info, very thorough...especially going over the history of google assistant.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Thanks! I really liked doing that too! Maybe I will do more of it

[@doobydude420]

I just downloaded co-pilot Ai which is Microsoft. They even have it built into their edge browser.

[@kfireven]

Oh no, now I'll have to say "Hey Brad" to wake up the devices? please no.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Those decisions aren't clear yet, but...there does look to be momentum in that direction

[@Junyo]

You forgot to mention that the most part of the Google Assistant team was transferred to Bard 14 months ago.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Were they all? I didn't actually know that!

[@Junyo]

The news broke in November or December 2022 and I thought that was really interesting. ChatGPT was turning the whole World upside down and Google needed to respond. They immediately pulled the top-developers from Google Assistant/Nest and put them on a "Company Critical" project.@@AutomateYourLife

[@senil5906]

I have 4 smart speakers from Xiaomi, with google assistant and 3 nest google gen 2, I hope to use them in the future because I paid for them, they were not a gift from brother google!

[@AutomateYourLife]

Hopefully nothing changes for you! I don't think too much for a while will change

[@doobydude420]

Those aqara sp2 presence sensors are really cheap now. Are you able to put them outside under an awning? To cover your backyard?

[@AutomateYourLife]

I don't think that's going to work out right :(

[@MeepMeep88]

WTF they taking off my stopwatch feature :(... So useful for the gym

[@AutomateYourLife]

There's some weird stuff they removed...not sure what that's about.

[@AlexMetslov]

Could we witness the end of another Google service? Dude, you serious? Born yesterday, on Mars? That's a special Olympic game for Google! Can't believe you're questioning that.

[@AutomateYourLife]

lol!

[@Rivodus]

Brian... I know this may be a bit off subject, actually it's very off subject But why is there a lack of decent smart (Celling lights) I'm from the UK and the only decent one with Zigbee for example are the (Philips hue Surimu Panels) Am I going crazy here? try looking up reviews for those lights .. they are non existent. I can't get the Nano leaf panels because they are so god dam expensive.

[@AutomateYourLife]

That's a good question, and I don't have a definitive answer for it. However, I can tell say that I think it's similar to the reason we don't have a lot of smart in-wall outlets. To make a device that physically goes in a home, you have to meet certain specifications. Each country has different requirements when it comes to electrical codes, and it can be very difficult to make products that meet those. It's even more difficult to get certifications. And then it's even more difficult to find a market for it. As in, will homebuilders use your design instead of a $150 ceiling light? So it's a tight market, but I'm thinking companies like Ikea will come to our rescue over time.

[@Rivodus]

Thank for your reply Brian, I never know how you have time to reply to all these questions but it is much applicated. I think I will just get these Hue celling lights for now, I hope they are bright enough . 🤣@@AutomateYourLife

[@doobydude420]

Whybdoes my Google home app get sp much slower just by adding 1 more camera, up from 1. Both are google cameras too

[@AutomateYourLife]

That...I don't know. Hadn't noticed it

[@doobydude420]

I have samsung Z fold 3. Although my ex wife might have put some sort of Spyware on here. Not quite sure how to remove it. Malwarebytes didn't find anything, default aamsung stuff didn't find anything. But it was some kind kf code by going to a website. Any recommendations on an app I could use?

[@turulcsaba68]

Hello!! I live in Hungary. Well, what you told me made me a little sad. I have 2 google tv chromecast 2 nest mini. I expected that the bard would bring the Hungarian language. But if I understood correctly, it is not certain that it will work in terms of hardware?

[@AutomateYourLife]

The thing to keep in mind is that Google does this kind of thing with all their releases. First US, English, New(ish) Devices. Then stuff they can roll back to. Then stuff they can roll out (new) to.

[@theslimbin]

If they stuck with it and integrated bard into it they’d be on top and genuinely untouchable. It’s so stupid they didn’t think ahead enough or stick with it

[@AutomateYourLife]

That's Google in a nutshell, isn't it?

[@ronm6585]

Thanks Brian.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Thank you sir!

[@markloughtonUK]

I can't believe that after all these years I STILL can't set a heating schedule in the Home app for my Nest Gen3. I have to use the Nest app 😮

[@AutomateYourLife]

Sigh... :(

[@nikushim666]

Screw either google or amazon. Support is spotty and lack of ability to change the wake word simply because neither company wants to give up branding is a huge turn off especially when you can use home assist or other open platforms instead which can all use openai's API.

[@richardscarlett7942]

well, this doesnt bode well for me. Im fixing to start building a house and was going to make it a smart house with automations all around Google nest max , google home, google assistant. Now I might as well scrap that or go with frigging apple and Im not doing apple junk

[@AutomateYourLife]

Just maybe hold a bit. Let this situation shake out. There's a lot changing in 2024

[@doobydude420]

Where can we get the apps to side load?

[@AutomateYourLife]

I used apkmirror, it's a site that tries to keep things safe and has a whole process being uploading APKs for sideloading. :)

[@JunkfoodJunction]

Bard may be the future but it comes with a price. The Google terms seems to indicate that there will be a subscription charge to use the service😮

[@AutomateYourLife]

It's possible for sure! Seems everyone is lining up to try to charge. But there's lots of competition so we will see

[@-whackd]

Nah, Microsoft doesn't charge you for gpt-4. We all can get great AI assistance for free, through voice or text, on our mobiles and PC's.

[@Ceoil]

​@-whackd Microsoft will be charging for their AI assistant called copilot. It's $30/month on top of 356 subscription.

[@coy9898]

How will this work if Bard isn’t available in Canada?

[@AutomateYourLife]

They say they're working on it. I managed to do it through a VPN and sideloading today though :)

[@HansAramburo]

Great video by the way.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Thanks!

[@TransitAndTeslas]

So I made the good choice by choosing Alexa instead of yet another soon to be discontinued Google product.

[@AutomateYourLife]

If you're happy now, be happy going forward! You made the best choice for you at the moment :)

[@HyperDaveUK]

They are gonna have to work really hard with Bard if they plan for it to be any use. It spits out inaccurate information on a regular basis and then doesn't remember what you said..

[@AutomateYourLife]

These LLMs all seem to at the moment. Lots of work to be done for sure!

[@tutacat]

It's faster now.

[@sundance2005]

I know you are a smart person, much smarter than me so I was surprised to hear (8:40) that you would control a heating device, your kettle with an automation that could potentially burn down your house and injurer your family with an automation that could unintentionally as it did turn it on. A VERY bad idea.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Oh I didn't do that! Google mistook me asking for lights and turned on a kettle. It's a smart kettle with a lot of good safety features that would manage that for me just fine

[@SmartHomeHASHTAGS]

In the Google Home app the device type of plugs can be set to Heater or Kettle, so it's possible to use it like that. With a 2400 Watt rating my plugs can handle them.

[@DuncanJimmy]

Can't help wondering if there's anything else these things can be used for instead of simply being destined for the dump or a museum.

[@AutomateYourLife]

We will have to try...I think some of the conversion projects are neat

[@KEYBEATZ]

I had very little issues with Google Assistant. I have many issues with this Gemini trash

[@AutomateYourLife]

😬😬

[@kyleagha2948]

how can you download the beta version of Bard?

[@AutomateYourLife]

It's not a beta of bard, it's a beta of Google Messages or the Google App

[@lucasmodena]

I've used the Google ecosystem for about 5 years and I'm seriously considering dumping it. The Assistant is worse today than it was 3 years ago. Sometimes it can't understand very basic sentences. I feel like Google has completely ditched this project to focus on higher revenue sources.

[@AutomateYourLife]

I think they have

[@RheinlandTester]

Can I use the Google Nest hub with gemini

[@AutomateYourLife]

Not today no.

[@markloughtonUK]

Google have already dropped the Pixel 7. It's like it never existed now. What chance have we got of them supporting hardware that's 3+ years old ?

[@AutomateYourLife]

What do you mean dropped it Mark? I thought it's still getting updates?

[@markloughtonUK]

@@AutomateYourLife Its still getting security updates but it's annoyed me how they bigged up the Tensor CPUs for AI and everything that's been mentioned over the last 3 months has been Pixel 8 only. I understand that the P8 is the new baby but they should at least give some glimmer of hope to P7 users.

[@AutomateYourLife]

@markloughton5904 everything I've seen puts Bard on all 3 versions of Tensor. I think just hang on

[@bradkrekelberg8624]

As a "Brad", I don't know about the name "Bard". haha

[@AutomateYourLife]

😬😬😬

[@garyhenderson9303]

Google in any form will never be part of my smart home. Several years ago I started seeing things I have searched for at home appearing as ads on my work computer. So in my next company I stopped using Google products completely on my work computer. Using different search engines etc. It seems to have stopped the data leakage. I do not want when I ask my smart home to enter a date for a dentist appointment in my private calendar that I then keep getting blasted with ads for Dentists at work. I get that some of the great products they have are free so they have to make money somehow and this is with advertising and trying to focus it using my data, however they do not want to offer barriers, so I have to make my own, causing them to loose me as a customer in certain areas.

[@AutomateYourLife]

So you're saying you care about this video Gary? ;)

[@garyhenderson9303]

Yes thats why I watched it. I may not be using Google in my smart home, but I still like to be informed about options. I like watching Victoria Secrets shows but never going to have one. :-) @@AutomateYourLife

[@garyhenderson9303]

Hi Brian, its good to have balanced information so even though I would not purchase google smart home products I do care about this Video as it offers information in a good way, which is why i watched it, if it was too long I might not have watched it. I watch Victoria Secrets sometimes but will never have one.@@AutomateYourLife

[@charlesxavier1904]

I was hoping fuschia would keep developing and they would come up with a better desktop version of the OS. Something better than what Google flex does. I feel like Google is in place to have the best ecosystem even better than apples but it's hard to feel that way when they constantly drop and pick up new things.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Agreed! To it all

[@bluearcherx]

i randomly got a new (better) voice on all my Google Assistant devices this past week... am i part of a secret test?

[@AutomateYourLife]

Possible! They're always running tests like that!

[@bruceweese8558]

I am concerned about Google using the name Bard for its AI because this is my nickname and it would become a problem in my home when someone says hey Bard will they mean me or the AI?

[@AutomateYourLife]

Yeah we will see what goes on there. It seems to be trending towards Bard being used, but stories like this might stop it

[@tutacat]

Cannot listen for music yet.

[@-whackd]

GOOGLE GOOGLE GOOGLE ASSISTANT

[@seethebutter]

Google continues to abandon their products..the security system expires in April. They just fired their nest design staff. No more google for me.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Where'd you see an announcement on that?

[@jim3099]

Will I be able to say "Hey Bard"?

[@AutomateYourLife]

It's looking like it, but I feel like that will be a decision made by data

[@Shillbilly]

iPhone here I come

[@AutomateYourLife]

Will the version of Siri on the iPhone that does generative AI be any better? That's the question isn't it?

[@peterlustig8917]

I switched to Alexa products years ago and had both the original Google home mini and dot 2 and now dot 5 in parallel. I started hating Google more and more. Alexa always heard me through music playing but Google didn't. It didn't get better with my pixel 7 and I'm finally now moving away for good. Google has lost its way

[@AutomateYourLife]

You gotta do what's right for you!

[@somemovingpictures]

Don't build your house on shifting sand.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Very good advice

[@kwanizac]

Your title is most likely wrong. Should say good bye I believe

[@AutomateYourLife]

LOL! What the! Thank you!

[@AutomateYourLife]

@@hhhmmmmmmmm no I had a mistake in my title. It was a totally wrong word than intended

[@hhhmmmmmmmm]

@@AutomateYourLife ok. Ill delete. Nice vid btw

[@andreamitchell4758]

Tensor is a flamming diarrhea fire my 7 pro was never even able to achieve 2 hours of SOT brand new out of the box from a full charge with zero standby time the TDP is shit, my dads 7 drains at a rate of over 1% per minute doing nothing but using the browser, no other apps open. if I charge my phone to 100% it will be dead by lunch if I never ever take it out of my pocket. tensor has the worst TDP out of any chip ever made, it's garbage rebranded Samsung exynos but somehow with way worse efficiency

[@AutomateYourLife]

You and I have had very different experiences with Tensor. Maybe it's the mix of Android 14 with the G3 version in my Pixel 8 Pro, but I have never had a phone last as long as this one. I can go a day and a half easily, and that's with moderate use. I did find my older pixels losing battery quickly when they were full (storage wise), so maybe try that? Or maybe pull a few apps off that are running in the background?

[@ELFMEDIA]

I have 2-3 days standby with my Pixel 6 Pro. May be your battery drain related with some apps or settings?

[@andreamitchell4758]

@@ELFMEDIA today my phu went super critical ,it was off and plugged in and charging And it got so hot I couldn't pick it up It wouldn't boot because it was so hot after it cooled enough for me to be able to touch it When it booted it was only at 70% after being plugged in all night and now after it cooled and booted up it is rattling and I can hear stuff moving around inside It got so hot it melted the glue inside And now When I move the phone it rattles. Pixel is literally hot garbage. Now I am afraid to even change the phone

[@davidw717]

Hello Gemini ♊

[@sygad1]

yay, more google stuff to shove in a drawer

[@AutomateYourLife]

lol

[@raymeow16]

you talk too much buddy!

[@AutomateYourLife]

Should I communicate through telepathy? What about barking? 🤣

[@philipperostin]

I guess google can learn from bixby as far as asking a device to do something. That's why I still have hesitations to totally ditch ST. Just a personnal opinion : Google started as a search engine, nothing more, nothing less. Is it capable of becoming a "smart" engine ? I dont think its the same worforce or the same mindset (The same goes btw for MS Samsung and all). I think these guys all need to go back to the basics of what we (the darn stupid mofos paying customers) want ! But hey may be in another life :)

[@AutomateYourLife]

I think a lot of people want the answer the first time, and that's what they're trying to do. We'll see though! I still want to have choices....

[@-whackd]

Yo Phil, alphabet owns DeepMind and Bard. They are pretty much the biggest AI team in terms of numbers of talent, although Facebook apparently hires a lot of people in that area (but we don't get much out of them yet). Otherwise there is openai and teslas self driving team has big names in their AI unit.

[@philipperostin]

@@-whackd I dont get your point !