Gemini regularly impresses me by carrying out complex, multifaceted requests.That’s why it’s so infuriating when it fails spectacularly at the most basic tasks—things Google Assistant could handle with ease.There’s a simple solution to this problem: make Gemini dumber.
Many Android fans long for the days of Google Assistant (sometimes I’m one of them).Sure, it wasn’t as “intelligent” as Gemini, but it was excellent at following simple commands.Ironically, that’s where Gemini struggles the most—as a digital assistant.
Why Google Assistant was better at simple tasks A smaller toolbox to work with The main issue with Gemini as a mobile assistant is how it handles commands.As a Large Language Model (LLM), it processes every prompt it’s given and generates a response.This is why you may have noticed Gemini will respond slightly differently almost every time to the exact same requests.
Google Assistant, on the other hand, was built to work with direct commands and phrases.When it recognized a command, it would match it to the associated action—like a switchboard operator.This allowed Assistant to respond quickly and accurately .
Let’s use the command “Set a timer for 5 minutes” as an example.Gemini reads the text and attempts to conceptually “understand” the intent: starting a countdown.It then has to recognize that it can’t carry out that task on its own, and to choose the appropriate extension to do it.
If all of that goes smoothly, Gemini tells the clock app to start a timer.Google Assistant simply scanned the text for specific intent phrases.In this case, it would match “set a timer” to the action of creating a timer, and “5 minutes” to the duration length.
Without any “thinking,” the command was sent directly to the clock app.Google Home Speaker $99 at Google Store Expand Collapse Some tasks don’t require “thinking” It’s not that deep The benefit of Gemini’s approach is that it can understand less specific wording and do more with it.I’ve put this to the test by saying, “Set a timer for honeybush blueberry pancake tea.” Gemini looked up the variety of tea, found the recommended steep time, and started a timer for that length.
I was impressed.If I gave that same command to Google Assistant, it would recognize the “Set a timer” part, but since I didn’t mention a time, it would have to ask how long the timer should be.The with Gemini’s high-level approach is that it’s just not needed for many of the digital-assistant-type tasks I try to do on my phone and smart speakers.
A recent conversation with Gemini really hammered this point home.As a Google product, Gemini has access to my Google services.I use both Keep and Tasks for different things—Tasks is where I have my primary “to-do” list.
However, Gemini always defaults to using Keep when I ask to add something to my to-do list.Unlike Assistant, I can’t simply choose which list app I want Gemini to use.So, I either need to specify to use Google Tasks every time, which is tedious, or I can add it to my personal instructions.
I did the latter: If I ask you to add something on my to-do list, put it on my Google Tasks list called "To-Do".Do not use Google Keep.Now, I know for a fact that Gemini can access my Google Tasks—it’s done it many times.
That’s why I was very annoyed when I recently asked it to add something to my to-do list, and the conversation below proceeded to happen.TL;DR: Gemini said it couldn’t access Google Tasks.I pointed out that I had just used Tasks in the previous conversation.
Gemini doubled down.We went back and forth.Finally, I asked what was on my Tasks list, and—surprise!—Gemini could tell me.
It apologized for the “confusion.” Gemini needs a “dumb” fallback There are times like the above when Gemini is too “smart” for its own good.There are so many common, daily life tasks that not only don’t require an LLM, but are actively worse when using one.It’s like watering a house plant with a pressure washer.
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Deals Explore Phones & Mobile Deals The perfect solution would be some sort of “dumb” mode that allowed Gemini to function more like Google Assistant in certain situations.It’s a bit ridiculous to be using gallons of water to set timers, create reminders, turn on lights, play music, and get the weather forecast when it was perfectly possible to do all of that before AI.Gemini’s full abilities are awesome for some things—genuinely—but a little restraint would go a long way when it comes to being an assistant on my phone.
We should be able to have the best of both worlds.Related Gemini is failing at a basic Android task my phone nailed back in 2014 We’ve been told over and over again how Gemini is an “upgrade” over Google Assistant.In many ways, it is—but the areas where it still lags behind feel infuriating.
Google says Gemini can help you remember where you parked, but the reality feels embarrassing.Posts 4 By Joe Fedewa
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