Google Home Bug Silences Basic Queries for Some Users

Some Google Home users are reporting issues with their devices not answering basic questions. The problem seems to be affecting both smart speakers and displays, although it's unclear how widespread the issue is.

Users have reported that they can still access other features, such as setting timers and fetching sports scores, but asking for simple information like recipes or federal holidays results in an error message saying 'I'm sorry, I don't understand that.'

One user noted that their device couldn't provide a list of federal holidays, but could define what a federal holiday is. This suggests that the issue may be specific to certain types of queries.

It's worth noting that some users believe this might be an attempt by Google to push people towards using its Gemini service, although there's currently no evidence to support this claim.