Google slated to axe location-based reminders from Assistant

Date:
Fri, 03 Jun 2022 04:00:29 +0000

Description:
Assistant will soon forget to remind you to pick up milk and some are okay with that.

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Google is delivering an emotional gut punch to the forgetful as it will soon remove location-based reminders.

The company didnt make a public announcement, but some eagle-eyed users noticed the change in the Google Assistant Help page . For those who dont
know or remember, you were able to create reminders to yourself according to
a location. As an example, you could set a reminder to buy a gallon of milk
at the supermarket, and if Google Assistant on your phone detects you driving past one, itll let you know.



Its unknown why Google is doing this, nor do we know when this feature will
be removed. We reached out to Google and asked if they could explain the decision to remove the Google Assistant feature and when people should expect this feature to be removed. Unfortunately, Google never got back to us. The only thing Google said on its help page in relation to this is that you can still create reminders based on time or create a routine for those locations.

9to5 Google speculates this could be tied to a potentially new Memory
feature for Assistant that would allow the service to save files, locations, movies, and more. They claim this is part of a spring cleaning, and that Google is getting rid of old and unwanted features so that it can bring in something new. People on the Android subreddit claim that Google is sending out notifications telling users of its upcoming change.

Speaking of users, their reaction has been a mixture of negativity and confusion. Judging by that Reddit post, some people are disappointed that the location-based reminders are getting removed while others completely forgot
it was even a thing.

A select few are actually happy location-based reminders are being removed because they claim the feature just didnt work. Analysis: Out with the old

The assertion that Google is doing some spring cleaning might hold some
truth. During the I/O 2022 , Google announced that it was revamping Google Assistant's AI so it can understand more casual conversation . Perhaps it is axing some old - and maybe underutilized - tech to make way for the new.

Google Snapshot , for example, was removed from its services back in mid-April. It was a feature that gave you a quick look at how your day was going to be, but now its gone with seemingly no follow-up. If that Memory feature does come to fruition, then perhaps its best that the underutilized location-based reminders go away for good to make way for something better.

If youre looking for an app besides Google offerings to set reminders, TechRadar has a list of the best calendar apps for 2022 .



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/google-slated-to-axe-location-based-reminders-f rom-assistant/


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