{
  "id": 6148602,
  "title": "Irritating Google Home bug refuses to answer your basic questions",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/irritating-google-home-bug-refuses-to-answer-your-basic-questions",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-07T15:50:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Android Authority",
    "slug": "android-authority",
    "url": "https://www.androidauthority.com/google-home-devices-refusing-answers-bug-3708429/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent bug affecting Google Home devices has left some users unable to answer simple queries, according to multiple reports circulating on Reddit. While some functions, such as setting timers and retrieving sports scores, appear to be working correctly, users are encountering difficulties when attempting to ask for basic information like recipes or defining federal holidays.\n\nOne user, who owns an unspecified smart display, reported that when asked if Columbus Day is a federal holiday, the Google Home voice assistant responded with a curt, \"I'm sorry, I don't understand that.\" Interestingly, however, the device was still able to provide a definition of what constitutes a federal holiday, indicating that the issue may be specific to certain types of questions.\n\nThe problem appears to be affecting users who are utilizing the older Assistant experience, with no confirmed reports of the same issue arising among Gemini for Home users. While it may seem like Google Home is constantly causing frustration, this is not the first time the smart speaker has been in the news for malfunctioning. Earlier in the year, users were able to add lists to Keep, a Google service that was later fixed by the tech giant.",
  "summary": "At least a couple of the affected users appear to be on the older Assistant-based experience.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}