Google has just pulled the plug on third-party smart displays, such as those made by Lenovo, JBL and LG, by terminating software support. This demonstrates that, even beyond its current voice Assistant, Google is no longer interested in developing devices with its service as the main feature. This decision has further pointed to the search giant’s focus on its radically different AI chatbot, Bard, which it touted as the new era of voice assistant technology.
Google’s software cutback on third-party devices represents more than just the disappearance of voice-controlled devices. It’s a sign of the times as we enter into a new age of AI-powered assistant technology, leaving traditional voice-based smart devices behind. Google’s termination of software support for these products calls into question not only the future of these third-party devices, but Google’s current voice assistant overall.
The company’s first smart displays, supported by the Google Assistant, arrived in 2018 and no more have been released in the last two years, indicating that the assistant market might be at its end. This, in tandem with Google’s decision to end software support, could mean that customers of these displays could potentially experience quality issues with video calls and other services on their devices. The Nest Dropcam, Fitbit, and other services have also been removed from Google’s suite of products.
Lenovo, JBL, and LG’s devices will continue to work for the moment, but it’s still a big loss for these companies and their customers if Google truly has no plans to support them in the future. Google has not released an official statement outlining how the lack of software support will affect the devices, but if the writing is on the wall, then customers may soon be looking for replacements for their formerly Google-powered smart displays.
Google is the brain behind the name and services of a global tech giant. It is a web search engine that has helped shape the way people interact with the internet by making it easier and faster to find the information they need. Google offers a suite of services, such as Gmail, Google Shopping, Google Suite, Drive, Maps, and more. Google has also provided helpful AI-enabled services, such as the Google Assistant, and was an early innovator in voice assistant technology. It is one of the largest tech corporations in the world and is the largest search engine globally.
The discussion surrounding Google’s changes to its services is led by CEO Sundar Pichai. Pichai is an Indian-American business executive who has served as the CEO of Google since 2015 and as the CEO of its parent company, Alphabet, since 2019. With a background in engineering and a deep understanding of the tech industry, Pichai has pushed for major growth and innovation at Google and other Alphabet subsidiaries. Under his leadership, Google has become a true tech powerhouse, developing and launching AI-powered products, such as the Google Assistant and Google Bard, that are redefining the voice-first space.
