Google Transfers Its 'Animal of the Day' Assistant Function to an Upland Farm
In a recent development, Google has announced that the "Animal of the Day" feature on the Google Assistant will be phased out by the end of November. This change was confirmed by Google in a note that appeared after typing "animal of the day" into Android's Assistant search bar.
The decision to discontinue the feature has sparked conversations about Google's priorities for the Google Assistant. While there have been no official announcements regarding the reasons behind this decision, typical reasons for such a move could include shifting user engagement priorities, technical updates, or strategic refocus by Google towards more integrated or advanced Assistant capabilities.
The phasing out of the "Animal of the Day" feature does not mean that users can no longer ask Google Assistant questions about their favourite animals. However, after November 27, the Assistant will no longer provide the "Animal of the Day" feature.
This marks the end of an era for the Google Assistant, as the feature had been a popular and beloved addition since its inception. Google's latest foray, however, seems to be into AI projects that help it compete with the bigwigs, indicating a shift in focus away from the Google Assistant.
Interestingly, there are rumblings that Google will offer a "classic" version of the Assistant that doesn't integrate the Bard chatbot. This classic version might be to appeal to Android diehards who aren't as interested in Google's AI foray as someone who mainly deals with it in the browser.
Google has also deprecated Conversational Actions, which allowed developers to build custom experiences for the Assistant. This could mean that developers looking for a custom "brand" command may have to turn to the Amazon Alexa ecosystem, which continues to employ skills.
It's worth noting that Google has stopped supporting third-party smart displays earlier in the year, and the Lenovo smart displays network has reached the end of life. These changes suggest a possible streamlining of Assistant functionalities or a move towards more personalized and interactive responses.
Google has yet to update the support page with a note about the removal of the "Animal of the Day" feature. When contacted, Google responded with a statement about the decision, but did not elaborate on the reasons behind it.
Despite these changes, Google is still prioritizing the most popular features for the Google Assistant, ensuring that users continue to have a seamless and enjoyable experience.
On one hand, the removal of the "Animal of the Day" feature from Google Assistant has stirred discussions about Google's future technology directions, potentially hinting at a strategic realignment towards AI projects. On the other hand, whispers about a previous Google plan to offer a "'classic'" Assistant version devoid of the Bard chatbot, designed to cater to Android enthusiasts indifferent to AI forays, have surfaced.
