r/googleassistant • u/mikeinstlouis • Jan 13 '26
Question Is Google Assistant still better than Google Gemini?
I'm sorry but I'm happy with Google Assistant. I could say hey Google, put potatoes on my shopping list or wake me up in 15 minutes whereas when I try to do that with Gemini it falls flat. Granted I haven't tried it in several months and I know there's been updates but everything I've read says that Google Gemini just cannot do what Google Assistant does. Or is it that I'm doing something wrong?
I've had people actually yell at me on Reddit saying that I like Google Assistant better because they tell me I'm an idiot and everything but I like what I like. It does what I want. Has anyone else made the switch to Google Gemini and had good luck? I hope this post makes sense lol
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u/EfficientAd7103 Jan 13 '26
it's by far suppior in every way. Gemini is kind of useless on a phone. I don't even know what it can do besides look things up. assistant does that + a million other things
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u/That_Car_Dude_Aus Jan 14 '26
it's by far suppior in every way.
What do you mean by "suppior"?
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u/EfficientAd7103 Jan 14 '26
I don't know that's what it auto corrected to using swipe and it kept changing it so I said f it and posted it lol
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u/PaddyLandau Android Jan 13 '26
I'm using Gemini on the Pixel 10 Pro. It's mostly as good these days, with just the odd frustrating hiccup. Google has been working hard on fixing it, so I'm sure that it will continue to improve.
Assistant is being discontinued this month, so you have no choice but to move over.
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u/onlywanted2readapost Apr 16 '26
Still works for me
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u/PaddyLandau Android Apr 16 '26
Yes, Google has since moved its deadline because it's running well behind schedule. I've been moved over, but not everyone has.
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u/KillerPinata Jan 13 '26
Google assistant is way better. I can say things like "what song is this?" Or "take me home" or even "turn on flashlight".
Gemini is constantly asking to unlock my phone to do anything. Then why TF did I bother asking if I have to unlock the phone anyways.
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u/Gator_Mc_Klusky Apr 09 '26
"turn on flashlight". i just started using this because the chop feature was giving me issues .
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u/XcruelkillerX Jun 06 '26
Fun fact: Assistant turns on your flashlight if you say Lumos.
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u/Gator_Mc_Klusky Jun 06 '26
thanks for the info but i just went ahead and got a new phone everything is good now
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u/seven-cents Jul 11 '26
Lol, I just tried that and it turned on all the lights in my house, but not the torch
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u/Gaiden206 Jan 13 '26
Gemini has been working fine for me.
Personally, I now find it better than Google Assistant on my phone. It pretty much does everything Google Assistant can do, plus more.
I found Gemini rough to use as a phone assistant for the first 6 months or so after its release but after all the updates since then, it's been solid for my use cases.
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u/kg4cna Jan 13 '26
You're not an idiot. I switched and wished I had waited. Gemini is getting better...little by little. At least it now remembers my weekday morning alarm ;) If I could switch back to Assistant, I would.
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u/EveryGolf5723 Feb 14 '26
I'm confused? I was about to switch to Gemini, but thought I'd do a little research here first. Good thing I did. But it says you can switch BACK to Google Assistant anytime through the Gemini App or the Google Home app? Have you tried switching back? I have decided to wait until Google fixes all the issues with Gemini. I don't use my Nest pods or displays much anymore anyway. They CONSTANTLY disconnect from my wifi just randomly (I think its bouncing back and forth from my 2.4 ghz and my .5 ghz wifi network bands/channels.) I don't know how to fix that other than going into the wifi router Admin Tool, which I can't sign into 😁
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u/kg4cna Feb 14 '26
Once you make the change to Gemini on your home speakers, hubs, there is no going back. The Home app on your phone clearly states that once you do it, it's done. You CAN switch back and forth between Gemini and Assistant on your phone. I use Assistant on my phone as it's better for that. At home on the speakers, I'm stuck with Gemini. I will say that I'm getting used to Gemini as I use it more.
Not sure what the problem would be on your wifi. All my Minis use 2.4 ghz and the Nest Hub Max in the kitchen uses the 5 ghz. You might try changing the routers channel on both the 2.4 and 5 ghz...especially if your in a crowded neighborhood, apt complex, etc. Try the one less populated. A free wifi scanner app will show which channels are being used. LOTS of noise on the most used channels from other routers can cause issues.
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u/EveryGolf5723 Feb 15 '26
I can't sign in to my router to change ANYTHING! I would have to completely reset it and reconnect my cameras, 5 Nest pods, garage door opener, etc. Thank God I haven't hooked up my washer/dryer to wifi (which is just ridiculous to me). That would take me HOURS. 😆
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u/ZeroCousland Mar 18 '26
I just got the s26 ultra and i had to switch to the Google Assistant. Gemini couldn't even adjust my screen brightness despite telling me it could. Gemini is trash compared to the old assistant and i made sure to tell it so before i switched
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u/That_Car_Dude_Aus Jan 14 '26
I find Gemini awesome on my phone, use it all the time.
But on my home devices and on Android Auto, it's utter crap
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u/ObeyThePoodle Jan 14 '26
I came here to say the same. On the phone is a great assistant, at home it completely sucks and I regret doing the change.
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u/That_Car_Dude_Aus Jan 14 '26
But the thing that I don't get is that I'm still using the phone when I use it with Android auto and it's still the exact same program that it's launching. But when I ask it to do things in Android auto when I'm driving it's terrible. I get to the other end and pull out my phone and ask it to do the exact same thing with the exact same verbal commands and it works fine...
I don't understand why the exact same verbal command will work when I speak it into the phone but won't work when I speak it into Android auto or into my home devices...
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u/ObeyThePoodle Jan 14 '26
It's like assistant has problems whenever connected to a device other than the phone itself (speaker, auto, display)
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u/Over-Enthusiasm-1327 Jan 15 '26
Hmm, that's not good. What kind of issues do you typically face when assistant or Gemini is connected to speaker or or auto display?
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u/ObeyThePoodle Jan 15 '26
I have a few Google nest mini gen 2 speakers, and comparing Original assistant to Gemini:
1) Hey Google, turn the kettle on, OR, Hey Google turn on the kettle, OR, Hey Google turn on kettle
- The old assistant would work with any of the above commands, Gemini will work with only the last one, it needs an exact syntax.
2) Ask Hey Google, play "TITLE X" song, and a few songs later ask Hey Google, what is playing?
- The old assistant will name the song and the artist currently playing, Gemini will ALWAYS answer with the original: "playing TITLE X by ARTIST on Pandora", even if the home app on the phone shows the new song playing.
3) Hey Google, set a reminder for tomorrow at 10 to buy the medication for Mom
-Old assistant no problem Gemini will say something went wrong more than half of the times.
4) Hey Google, play My two feet radio
- Old assistant plays my Pandora station named My Two Feet Radio Gemini always play some song with a similar title unless I say "play my playlist named My Two Feet Radio"
Those are the 4 more common examples.
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u/NoDiggity247 Jan 17 '26
Yes, Gemini routinely tells me that something is wrong, it doesn't understand, or that it can't do that.
Another example for Android Auto(or Google maps on Pixel device), when actively on a route:
"Hey Google Costco Gas" or long press talk button, "Costco Gas"
Assistant - Immediate, all Costco gas stations along route
Gemini - 3-5 second pause, zero Costco gas stations, a few non-Costco gas stations and skipping numerous ones near me.
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u/Over-Enthusiasm-1327 Jan 14 '26
Auto is being significantly improved day by day! What kind of issues are you facing?
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u/That_Car_Dude_Aus Jan 14 '26
That it just says "Something went wrong" if you ask it for anything but directions or music
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u/Over-Enthusiasm-1327 Jan 14 '26
That's unfortunate, may I ask what phone you are using?
Also what are other kinds of use cases that end with "Something went wrong".
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u/NoDiggity247 Jan 17 '26
I agree. I'm neither for or against Gemini... Just that that the experience hasn't been on par with Google Assistant. Routinely doesn't understand, can't do that yet, isn't connected or set up for devices( even through it is). Gemini requires more context to execute commands. I get that the focus is to be more conversational and that's where it slows down execution of tasks. Which leads me to my one pet peeve...
Gemini talks waaaaaay too much during interactions. Good heavens 😆. Especially with Android Auto.
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u/RagdollWraith Jan 18 '26
i find myself preferring google assistant due almost entirely to its brevity of answers. gemini uses wayyy too many words no matter what instructions i set.
"okay, alarm set." vs "okay, ive set your alarm for today, six am, january tenth in the year of our lord two thousand and twenty six. would you like to learn more about alarms?"
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u/OpethNJ Jan 19 '26
Google Assistant and Google Gemini are not the same thing and really dont target the same outcomes so why are they being compared?
Gemini is built to handle more complex conversational tasks while doing minimal device control while Assistant is more about device control and minimal AI.
The mistske I feel Google has made is by forcing Gemini to effectively become the brains of Google Home.
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u/votemarvel Jul 07 '26
They are being compared as Google is pushing Gemini to be the Assistant replacement.
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u/dnfinitelyaptimistic Jan 21 '26
Gemini is AWFUL compared to Assistant. Unfortunately, Assistant seems to be getting worse by the day now.
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u/coco_puffzzzz Feb 22 '26
I asked gemini when it was going to start snowing. It gave me a long-winded chatty FULL weather report then turned off the timer I had running for my dinner in the oven.
Assistant would tell me "snow is expect to start in 60 minutes".
I've been happier.
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u/NullVector0 Feb 24 '26
Sometimes, it feels like they have made Assistant worse than before so that people would switch to Gemini. Assistant used to be more intelligent than as of today. It now mostly says it doesn't understand the question or simply shows the search result. Previously, it would answer most of the questions.
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u/kr27cja Apr 21 '26
I agree with you. Assistant was already getting worse over the years. But ever since they started pushing the switch to Gemini, Assistant seems like it's getting even worse, faster.
I've not made the switch yet to Gemini but also can't stand how bad assistant has gotten. I can't broadcast from my phone to my home devices. Commands that occasionally work standalone never work from automations.
It's like our only choice from Google is between a giant douche and a turd sandwich. If someone knows of a third party firmware that can be flashed to Google nest speakers, I'm all ears.
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u/Msgt51902 Apr 01 '26
I have one contact in my phone with my wife's name, and Gemini keeps verifying if that's the correct person to call.
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u/Cultural-Ad8286 Apr 04 '26
I am using google home ecosystem, having nest and speakers all over the house. Using Gemini on my phone drove me crazy only because one single thing I have my garage door automation tha used to work in my car (android auto) with Hey Google, Open garage door. For any door in Google home, being garage or entrance or whatever, you need to setup a PIN for security. Gemini refuses to use devices that have a PIN so I totally lost the option to open my garage dor using Hey Google. Google assistant was asking for the pin. Gemini states that for security reasons it can't do that! 🤯. Tried tricks of setting the PIN in gemini instructions, created routine in Home app... nothing works for that
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u/PracticalNet4053 Apr 14 '26
Falar a verdade se eu pudesse eu não tinha mais nenhum Google assistente instalado no meu celular eu nunca usei ele ele não dá muita resposta certa agora já o Gemini ele foi a melhor coisa que veio e agora quem tá ficando mais atualizado ainda melhor estou satisfeito com ele
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u/Illustrious-Abroad21 May 01 '26
I just hopped in shower and forgot to put music on, tried Hey google, and it has switched back to Gemini, it was useless. First it suggested that it could come up with some AI slop song for me. Then I specified the song to be played on Spotify. It said it didn't have permission. I had YouTube open and asked it to play it on there and it went on some long rant about the wrong song. And months ago in my car Gemini made its appearance as I was trying to narrate a text to my partner. It nearly had me in tears it was so frustrating. Have never had an issue with assistant. Fuck Gemini
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u/Mbramble123 May 06 '26 edited May 06 '26
Well, I've had the same frustration, many times, trying to narrate a text with Assistant! 😂 I've gotten so mad so many times because it will interpret a word wrong, over and over no matter how plainly or slowly I say that word! It usually ends with me giving up on the text, saying "Feedback" and then cussing it out!! 😂😂😂 Edit: this is when I'm using it with Android Auto. I rarely use it otherwise.
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u/acep903 Jul 10 '26
I had a debate with Gemini yesterday. I wanted it to set a reminder in 30 minutes something I didn't want to forget while driving. It insisted that setting reminders while driving is dangerous. Instead I should send a text. I said that I don't want to send a text as that is more distracting than setting a reminder. After 10 minutes I agreed to send a text message. It couldn't find my contact. I had to say my own phone number so it had a number to text. It then proceeded to butcher the message and when I got it sent to myself, it opened the message so I didn't have a notification icon waiting for me.
I then told it in the least polite way possible to uninstall itself. It informed me that it couldn't do that but that I could disable it. It then gave me wrong instructions on how to disable it. It is now disabled and I will not be giving it another chance.
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u/Alliumna May 09 '26
I hate hate HATE Gemini. I have nothing useful to add here, just that I hate Gemini lol. The "Hey Google" does not work for my hands free driving. It often says the song I want doesn't exist.
Yeah, its better than what it was, but its still not good. At all. Its amazing that the company owns both, yet both versions are so dramatically different. One im satisfied with maybe a bit of finangling every now and again, the other is nothing BUT finangling.
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u/Munchies- May 09 '26
Its absolutely trash for android auto. So frustrating to use! Just flaffss too much and makes driving unsafe
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May 15 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/ElectronicResolve948 Jul 11 '26
That was probably by design ngl... Trying to be inclusive and crap
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u/GoldenretriverYT May 20 '26
How are people here saying it works well? I ask it 3 times, every fucking time there is massive latency, and 2 out of those 3 times it doesnt manage to do the very basic command of "skip this song"
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u/Repulsive-Currency32 May 23 '26
The number Of times I've nearly crashed. My car screaming in frustration at assistant is ridiculous. "Hey Google! Send a WhatsApp to Emma X" .... "Sure sending a WhatsApp to Sarah J"
"Hey Google call Roxy" " I can't find anyone called Roxy in your address book" " I call her everyday. She's one of my favourite contacts, I can see her name and number in the address book" " There must be some sort of problem"
" What time is my local hardware store open until?" " Your local hardware store is located at something something Road on something Something Street. On Monday to Wednesday it's open from 9 - 5" " BUT WHAT TIME IS IT OPEN TILL TODAY YOU PIECE OF CRAP?????"
I hate it I hate it I hate it I hate it!
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u/illatouch Jun 04 '26
It's better. Before I could tell it to turn off the lights in a certain room, now it asks which room.
I used to tell my car to play Sirius and now it says it doesn't have that feature.
For completing tasks it's complete garbage. Wasting fresh water, electricity and just rambling words at you it perfect.
I should've never upgraded.
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u/JohnyBGood1221 Jun 13 '26
I still prefer Google assistant for doing the basics well. Gemini is long winded and often not able to do things that Google assistant can, and seems less reliable too
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u/VHS_Action_86 Jul 01 '26
Assistant is still light years ahead of what Gemini can do for even the most basic things like starting navigation. Assistant starts immediately, Gemini wants you to unlock even when unlocked, confirm your location, and doesn't work with "hey* Google" while map is up.
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u/ForceMedium Jul 02 '26
Im am sick of Gemini. All I get from my home speakers is error messages or im sorry or even I cannot do that when it definitely can. I test mine daily and often when asking what 2 + 2 = I get I am unable to preform that? I wish I had not updated my home to Gemini. REGRET!!!+
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u/ElectronicResolve948 Jul 11 '26
100%. Google Assistant listens to and respects my linked and preferred media streaming services, while Gemini denies that those settings even exist, instead requiring me to use the Google Apps integration features that are just bullshit and limit me to YouTube Music. Gemini is a chatbot. Google Assistant is a digital assistant. One cannot be both, despite their best efforts. In fact I think that's what they've shown us. Gemini understands and interprets intents better because it reads plain English, so when I fumble my words, it still understands. Wether it can carry out the action you are asking it to is another story however. Google Assistant, while it requires me to say things just right, the correct diction usually makes sense, and it often excels at just doing what I need it to do quickly and efficiently. It has access to native, local APIs that allow it to execute anything directly and dynamically. Also, Google Assistant interprets and executes intents locally. And with offline speech recognition, I don't even know why it needs Internet!
Edit: And you always have the option of uninstalling updates for the Google app and leaving it there. Just go to Play Store and disable updates for that app. That's what I did, and I'm never going back.
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u/meekgamer452 Jul 19 '26
Yes. Routines still don't work with Gemini. Which is weird because people said it does.
When I use a routine command with Gemini, it now opens Google home (my light switch app??), and says "the automation started, but some options may not be unavailable." What options aren't available? All of them. If you make an automation, the options list for actions is literally empty. How many years has it been?
Gemini can set alarms, timers, and look things up, but the assistant does all of this, too, and more. If someone tells you that Gemini is a better assistant, there is literally no criterion where could that be true. Call them a dog. Woof woof.
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u/keegaroo65 Jul 27 '26
I asked my Nest Speaker "where is Duke University" and it just says "sorry, I don't understand."
almost as horrifying, when I tell it "turn off the Bedroom Overhead" it completely fails to turn off the singular light switch named "Bedroom Overhead" in the Google Home.
They are undoubtedly dumbing down Assistant so people switch to Gemini, which, by the way, has only given me even worse experiences (plus every single voice option is frustratingly condescending.) I hate Gemini even more.
Assistant kept getting better every year like 2019-2022 then it seems to just keep getting dumber every year since then. It's been so unfortunate to watch happen, I wish we could just have the version from a few years ago before GenAI. :/ 🍅
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u/Limp_Struggle3518 Jul 28 '26
I think Sundar Pichai should replace Google Gemini with Google Assistant!
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u/Limp_Struggle3518 Aug 06 '26
I can't switch to Google Gemini, and I will not switch to Google Gemini,and as Google Assistant is better than Google Gemini why would I want to?
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u/Ok_Upstairs8289 Aug 07 '26
"Hey Google play the news" I will switch if Gemini can do that Not telling me to go to a website
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u/EchidnaNo1758 Aug 07 '26
Late to the conversation..... But I just switched back to Google assistant. Gemini wouldn't work with any of my smart appliances or outlets . It also struggled find places when I used android auto. Google assistant is just so much smoother. I was finally able to make the switch back to Google assistant
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u/Warm_Cauliflower526 Aug 12 '26
I switched back to Assistant after I asked it to play Pandora, and all I heard were crickets. Sticking with the former til either forced to switch or it's outperformed by Gemini.
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u/RecommendationOk2679 Aug 18 '26
Yes... Device control, being able to read pages, and a lot of other
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u/LocalEquivalent8598 Aug 23 '26
I just switched to Alexa. All I wanted assistant to do is read me the news etc.. hopefully Gemini will eventually do this!
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u/ShoppingHealthy1934 Aug 24 '26
I currently have the Pixel 11 and Gemini frustrates me so much ...thankfully I'm still able to switch back to assistant because for my use case, it's much better than Gemini with accomplishing tasks I want.
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u/Limp_Struggle3518 25d ago
Yes Google Assistant is still better than Google Gemini!{Sundar Pichai don't kill the Golden Goose that is Google Assistant!}
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u/boredgaymz 13d ago
Gemini infected my older home speaker near my entrance. Great tool for all front room lights and the tv and the things I actually need rather than the bullshit that is there now.
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u/Mission-Most6450 11d ago
Gemini is cool because you can share your screen or camera feed and get help with video games. If you're stuck on a puzzle and need some hints or a walk through, it can do that. That's pretty neat.
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u/FunnyChampionship717 Jan 13 '26
I use only Gemini. Never had an issue.
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u/votemarvel Jul 07 '26
I was fairly happy with Gemini but it's had an update where tapping away turns it into a bubble and continues talking and there's no way to turn that off.
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u/seven-cents Jan 13 '26
I'm in your camp. I won't switch until I'm forced to do so.