In a significant shift for smart home enthusiasts and Samsung TV owners, Google Assistant’s integration with Samsung smart TVs has come to an end. As of March 1, 2024, Google Assistant will be removed from Samsung TVs, marking the conclusion of its availability on these devices.
Key Highlights:
- Google Assistant was integrated into Samsung TVs starting in 2020, offering voice control for browsing, app launching, and smart home device management.
- The removal affects all Samsung smart TV models from 2020, 2021, and 2022, including the 8K and 4K QLED TVs, Crystal UHD TVs, and Lifestyle TVs.
- Samsung cites a change in Google’s policy as the reason for the discontinuation.
- Other voice assistants like Bixby and Amazon Alexa will continue to be supported on Samsung smart TVs.
Understanding the Change
Samsung integrated Google Assistant into its TV lineup in 2020 alongside other voice assistants such as Bixby and Amazon Alexa. This feature allowed users to control their TVs and connected smart home devices using voice commands, enhancing the user experience by providing a convenient, hands-free way to browse channels, launch apps, and manage smart home devices. However, this collaboration has reached its conclusion, with Samsung confirming the removal of Google Assistant from its smart TVs by March 1, 2024. This decision is attributed to a change in Google’s policy, although specific details regarding the policy change have not been disclosed.
What This Means for Samsung TV Owners
For users who have relied on Google Assistant for their daily interactions with their Samsung smart TVs, this change means adapting to alternative voice assistants available on their devices. Bixby and Amazon Alexa remain as the supported voice assistants, allowing users to continue enjoying voice control functionality, albeit without Google Assistant’s specific features and integrations. It’s important for users to explore these alternatives to maintain the convenience and efficiency of voice control in their smart home setups.
Looking Forward
While the removal of Google Assistant from Samsung TVs marks the end of an era, it also emphasizes the dynamic nature of technology partnerships and integrations. Samsung and Google have both indicated that they will continue to evolve their product offerings and services, potentially introducing new features and collaborations in the future.
Summary
The discontinuation of Google Assistant on Samsung smart TVs is a significant change for the smart home ecosystem, driven by a shift in Google’s policy. As the technology landscape continues to evolve, Samsung TV owners will need to adapt to alternative voice assistants while staying tuned for future updates and enhancements in smart TV technology. This development underscores the importance of flexibility and adaptability in the ever-changing world of smart home devices.
