Google’s decision to end support for its third-party devices doesn’t mean they’ll stop working, but it does indicate what’s been happening over the past few years: They won’t receive any new features or updates.
Halting updates to third-party products not only seems like a way for the company to cut a line of products that have been largely replaced by the Nest Hub (which the upcoming Pixel tablet may soon usurp), but also a sign Google is distancing itself from the former Assistant and focusing more on intelligence technology. Generative artificial like Bard.
In a memo obtained by CNBC last month, Sissy Hsiao, head of Google Assistant, told workers that the vice president of the engineering team, Amar Subramanya, would be swapped to lead the cool team. He also noted that the department will take on a more supportive role as Google continues to work on Bard.
“As Bard teams continue this work, we want to ensure we continue to support and implement future opportunities,” Hsiao said in the memo, seen by CNBC. “This year, more than ever, we have focused on delivering with impact for our users.”
Meanwhile, a report from the information From October, it previously revealed that Google was investing less in Assistant products for cars and other third-party devices that use the software, including TVs, headphones, smart home speakers, smart glasses, and smartwatches. Hsiao reportedly told a colleague that Android Auto brings in just $1 billion in annual revenue, barely enough to make a dent in the $257.6 billion Google made last year. For this reason, it may turn some people away from the initiative.