13/06/2023: End of Google’s Conversational Actions.

Google stop radio on smartspeaker. On June 13th, 2023, Google will permanently disable the Conversational Actions service on Google Home smart speakers. This decision was motivated by Google’s strategy to integrate its artificial intelligence, Assistant, introduced in 2016, more closely with Android. This move raises some questions about the future use of services such as radio listening via smart speakers.

The European market for radio listening via smart speakers has already shifted to Amazon Echo, powered by the Alexa artificial intelligence. Four years ago, Google released a functionality called App Actions with Android. According to which app developers must implement invocations, i.e., voice commands, rather than generate the architecture supporting their own voice assistant from scratch and make it interact with Google’s ecosystem.

However, it is unclear whether radio listening functionalities can be translated into the App Actions with Android methodology or whether we will have to abandon the prospect of enjoying them via Google smart speaker.

There are still doubts about the future of radio listening on smart speakers, but there may be the possibility of restoring live streaming delivery with complicated operations that could discourage content providers and users.

The European market for radio listening via smart speakers had already gradually shifted to Amazon Echo devices, powered by the Alexa AI, even before Google’s announcement. Therefore Google’s abandonment of Conversational Actions could represent the definitive end of radio listening on Google Home devices. Although Google has not provided precise indications about the future of radio listening functionalities. It seems that smart home applications, web content actions, multimedia actions, and app actions will continue to exist and will not be affected by the disabling.

Google has specified that “if your smart home action was created as a Conversational Action, it is affected by the disabling” and that “our smart home team should have contacted you regarding a migration path.”

So, if you have a Conversational Action for your smart home, you should have received a notice and should consider a migration path to avoid service interruptions.

In conclusion, Google’s disabling of Conversational Actions represents a challenge for many developers and content providers. They rely on the platform for the delivery of services and content via Google Home smart speakers.

Certainly this decision not only affects Google Home device users but also Moosbox and Music Your Brand customers who are currently using Google Actions. If you are one of them, we recommend that you consider using one of our other audio delivery systems. You Can use systems such as Sonos, desktop or mobile applications, decoders, Raspberry, or Alexa.

Also we are here to help you find the best solution for your needs and to ensure that your content is always accessible to your users.