Why I'm Kicking Google Out of My Smart Home (And You Should Too)

I've always dreamt of living in a futuristic, Jetsons-like abode, with everything connected and automated. But you know what they say: be careful what you wish for. As a smart home enthusiast, I jumped on the Google Home bandwagon, only to find myself increasingly frustrated with Google's antics. So, here's my hilarious (and somewhat bitter) take on why I'm ditching Google's smart home ecosystem.

Google: The Master of Self-Sabotage

Oh, Google, what a tangled web you weave! Your constant flip-flopping on the smart home ecosystem has left me reeling. Just when I thought my Lenovo Smart Display was the bee's knees, you decide to stop supporting it and strip away its web browsing capabilities. I get it; you want us to use your Nest products. But do you really need to kill off features on third-party devices? Not cool, Google.

Navigating Google's Mess: A Full-Time Job

Working around Google's mess has become my new hobby. Ever since the Fuschia OS upgrade, my Nest Hub has been more temperamental than a two-year-old on a sugar high. Asking for the weather? How about a history lesson on bagels instead? Music playback is a gamble, and don't even get me started on the fallout from the Sonos lawsuit. I shouldn't have to suffer because of your corporate drama, Google.

Trust Issues: It's Not Me, It's You

I've recommended Google's products to friends and family, only to have my trust betrayed. Remember the Nest Secure home monitoring system? Launched in 2017, discontinued in 2020, and officially deprecated in 2023. Try explaining to your relatives why they need to rip out their security system because Google pulled the plug. As they say, fool me once, shame on you; fool me thrice, well, you're Google.

A Pattern of Disappointment

Google's smart home portfolio has left me jaded and searching for the nearest escape hatch. Constant self-sabotage and an insular approach to connected devices make me want to jump ship. Google, if you want to rebuild trust, you need a solid vision for your smart home products—both software and hardware.

So, I'm saying "sayonara" to Google and phasing out all of its hardware from my home and I have been using Home Assistant, a self-hosted ecosystem that doesn't hold my smart home hostage to corporate whims. If you're tired of Google's shenanigans too, maybe it's time for you to kick them out of your smart home as well and consider other system such as Alexa.