Google Assistant's great shrinking act, Android Auto tweaks, and more Android 16 teasers

Another new week, another set of Google shake-ups. From Google Assistant losing yet more features to Android Auto getting minor but useful tweaks, and Android 16 hinting at a UI redesign, let’s break it all down.

Google Assistant loses even more features 

If you thought Google Assistant’s slow death was already painful, brace yourself — it’s losing seven more features across Android, Nest Hub, and smart speakers.

Following a mass feature removal early last year, Google is now axing:

1. Voice commands to favorite, share, and ask when/where photos were taken.
2. Changing Photo Frame settings with your voice.
3. Live conversation translation (a.k.a. Interpreter Mode).
4. Birthday reminder notifications as part of Routines.
5. Family Bell announcements (a favorite among families).
6. Daily update requests (e.g., “Send me the weather every day”).
7. Google Assistant on car accessories with Bluetooth or AUX.

While some of these removals have alternatives — like using Google Translate instead of Interpreter Mode — others, like Family Bell, are major losses. It’s becoming clear that Google Assistant is being pushed aside in favor of Gemini, but with Gemini still lacking many Assistant functionalities, users are understandably frustrated.

And if you were hoping for a clear transition plan, well… this is Google we’re talking about. 

Android Auto 14.0 beta: Defrost buttons and maps alert controls

Google just dropped the first Android Auto 14.0 beta, and while there’s nothing flashy yet, there’s some interesting behind-the-scenes work happening. According to a teardown by 9to5Google, here’s what’s brewing:

1. Defrost controls: New strings in the code suggest front and rear defrost toggles are coming. It’s unclear whether these will be native Android Auto features or just car-manufacturer-dependent integrations.
2. Maps alert controls: Google is working on an “Alerts” section in Android Auto settings, likely giving drivers more control over incident reports and other notifications. This could be a response to user complaints about intrusive alerts.

While these features aren’t live yet, they’re expected to roll out in the coming weeks — so stay tuned for the next stable update.

Android 16 Beta 3: A UI revamp, custom icons, and more

We’re still months away from Android 16’s official release, but Google’s latest beta is teasing some big changes under the hood. Here’s what’s coming:

1. Revamped notification panel: A redesigned notification panel with a clearer layout, matching the lock screen clock style. A swipe from the top left brings notifications, while the top right opens Quick Settings—though there’s currently no way to swipe between them.
2. Custom icon shapes: After killing custom app icon shapes in Android 12, Google seems to be bringing them back — just like they were a few years ago. There’s also talk of lock screen customization similar to Samsung’s One UI 7.
3. Weather effects on the lock screen? Code hints suggest Google might be working on weather animations for the lock screen, much like what we’ve seen in OxygenOS and One UI.

None of these features are live yet, but they’re strong indicators of what’s coming when Android 16 lands later this year. With Google planning another major update in 2025, expect more tweaks in the months ahead.

Google Assistant continues to shrink, Android Auto is evolving (slowly), and Android 16 is shaping up to bring back some old favorites. What do you think of these changes? Are you excited about Android 16’s new look, or still mourning the loss of Google Assistant’s best features?

Let’s hear it in the comments!