"Google Streamlines Assistant by Removing 20 Underutilized Features for Improved Quality"

Google is removing at least 17 "underutilized" features from its Assistant product to focus on quality and reliability, following recent layoffs in the division. The removed features include voice commands for managing your cookbook, sending emails, rescheduling events in Google Calendar, and using App Launcher in Google Assistant driving mode on Google Maps. The company didn't specify how this move will improve Assistant but mentioned that user feedback has driven past improvements. Additionally, the way Assistant works on phones is changing, with the microphone icon in the Google search bar no longer pulling up Assistant.