Google Assistant will no longer be available on Fitbit Sense and Versa 3

[StefanieFitbit]

We want to share an update regarding Google Assistant on Fitbit Smartwatches. 

Over the next few weeks we will be progressively phasing out Google Assistant on your Fitbit device. You can learn more about this process here. This change means that Google Assistant voice control for activities will soon no longer be available on your Fitbit device. 

We understand that changes can be disruptive, and we value your feedback. We remain committed to continuously improving your Fitbit app and developing exciting new features. 

You can still continue to use Amazon Alexa voice assistant in certain languages and countries on your Fitbit devices. For more information check, How do I set up a voice assistant on my Fitbit smartwatch?

To learn about the Assistant experience on mobile  see, The Assistant experience on mobile is upgrading to Gemini.

[Guy_]

Thanks for the link @LZeeW  - which adds the suggestion of setting up routines as a means of getting round the intended downgrade. Which shouldn't be necessary if a proper migration was implemented.

As we know, routines don't work on Fitbit anymore since this annoying bug was introduced several years ago and was never fixed. It all used to work properly.

But for Fitbit, it is unclear, but at this stage looks like Google Assistant will be removed entirely from watches?

Furthermore any case of removing features is not an improvement or any help to users, it's simply destroying a useful tool that many users depend upon and bought their watches for this feature.

Retiring Google Assistant instead of upgrading it is also not a useful approach for users.

Most users in the real world expect compatible upgrades and continuity, not the inverse!

[Jvdzande]

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@StefanieFitbit wrote:

We understand that changes can be disruptive, and we value your feedback. We remain committed to continuously improving your Fitbit app and developing exciting new features. 

No, you do not at all. There is simply NO commitment at all to improvement, only tearing things down.  

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@StefanieFitbit wrote:

You can still continue to use Amazon Alexa voice assistant in certain languages and countries on your Fitbit devices. For more information check, How do I set up a voice assistant on my Fitbit smartwatch?

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So your remedy is to go to a competitor...  Again: Seriously GOOGLE?

[Jdsenter]

@StefanieFitbit , You have the source code for the  Sense/Versa 3, as they have modified the code for the battery issue, they could modify the code to allow Gemini functionality like Google Assistant. As you asked for feedback, seems several people are requesting something to be done. We understand Google might want to wash their hands of older Fitbit devices. But there are a lot of users who use apple devices and can't migrate to a Pixel Watch 1/2/3 (which uses assistant now, noted that it will transition to Gemini), why can't they modify the code to use Gemini? 

Just some feedback, as requested.

Just my opinion, They removed Music capabilities, Fitbit Pay, EU removed app store, now Google Assistant. The original Sense/Versa 3 is the last best Fitbit device. With a battery lasting days not hours. I am glad they at least switched to Google Pay Mobile, although some say it doesn't support all the previous cards/transit Fitbit Pay did. Switching to support Gemini would be great, would be the right thing to do. I have not seen this notice on the Google Sense 2/Versa 4, assuming they are transitioning to Gemini?

[clk1986]

After Google bought Fitbit, I believe they stopped adding Google Assistant support to devices in favor of Amazon Alexa. I noticed this when comparing features on Fitbits and was also a bit confused at first as to why Google would remove Google Assistant from their own device.  But after thinking about it, I just decided it's because of Pixel Watch.  Pixel remains "Google", Fitbit becomes "Alexa".  I don't think this has to do with Gemini, as Google Assistant has been phased phased out after Sense/Versa 3, back in Sept 2020, which I believe was even before Google acquisition of Fitbit was complete.

Maybe it was part of the acquisition deal or what regulators decided needed to be done for monopoly reasons (having 2 smart watch brands with Google Assistant, both owned by Google). That's just speculation though. That said, I don't think Google Assistant has worked for the last year (minimum) on my Sense, so not a bummer for me.  Heck, I've had this **ahem** thing and have worn it all day every day for the last 4.5 years, I'm just happy it still holds a charge for at least 3-4 days (with sleep O2) and still functions properly otherwise.  Still not sure if I go Fitbit, Pixel or something else when this one finally kicks the bucket.  I'm not opposed to going Sense "3", if that's the newest offering when mine dies, I do really like the features and would still have to compare to pixel.

[TechGuy77]

I've also now have had 2 Fitbit watches because I wanted a somewhat smart device that was a bit smaller than those gigantic Android watches who's battery only last 1 day. I have some other watches that have all the features of a Fitbit. --------

Moderator edit - word choice

[clk1986]

AFAIK, Sense/Versa 3 (Sept. 2020) were the last Fitbit devices to support Google Assistant. Subsequent devices switched to Amazon Alexa for voice assistant. 

That said, Google is pretty much abandoning Assistant in favor of Gemini. Fitbit doesn't have any say in the matter.  Even mobile devices will lose support by the end of the year, leaving Google Home/Mini/Display the only place to find Google Assistant (though, unknown for how long).

[Krystalann1972]

My watch will be getting an upgrade and it will not be a pixel watch. Maybe it is finally time to toss Android and move to Apple. The fact that Google took a great product and is ruining it is ridiculous. 

[Jephryb]

Garbage. Google is killing the line so people will buy the more expensive smart watches. If I wanted a smart watch I’d have an watch, and since they’re killing the line, just need the Sense to hold out until later 2025 with the new iwatch Ultra 3 comes out.

[Kalcan83]

The link to learn more about the process doesn't say anything about phasing out Google Assistant on Fibit Sense.  What is the actual timeline?