634. Google Actions - Competitive Reference
Basic Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Google Actions (Conversational Actions) |
| Company | |
| Release Date | 2016 (with Google Assistant) |
| Sunset Date | Conversational Actions sunset on June 13, 2023 |
| Google Assistant Retirement | March 2026 (replaced by Gemini) |
| Affected Devices | 800M+ smart devices (Works with Google Home) |
Product Description
Google Actions was Google's third-party developer platform for Google Assistant, allowing developers to create custom conversational experiences. However, Google shut down Conversational Actions on June 13, 2023, and gradually replaced Google Assistant with Gemini.
Google Assistant was officially retired in March 2026, with Gemini taking over completely. This process affected 800M+ smart devices connected via Works with Google Home. The demise of Google Assistant not only ended the Google Actions ecosystem but also led to the migration of numerous developers and users.
Core Features/Characteristics (Discontinued Features)
- Conversational Actions: Custom conversational experiences (closed in June 2023)
- App Actions: Deep linking to Android apps (still exists)
- Smart Home Actions: Smart home control (moved to Gemini)
- Media Actions: Media playback control
Removed Google Assistant Features (January 2024)
- Voice-controlled audiobook playback
- Media alarms and radio alarms
- Recipe management and instructional videos
- Voice-sent emails and video messages
- Google Calendar voice rescheduling
- Driving mode App Launcher
- Family Bell notifications
- Calm meditation integration
- Fitbit voice control
- Caller ID
- Commute time display
- Voice payments, bookings, and social media posts
Business Model
- Free development and deployment of Google Actions
- Overall profitability through the Google ecosystem
- Smart home device certification fees
- Terminated with the retirement of Google Assistant
Target Users (Historical)
- Android users
- Google smart device users
- Voice app developers
- Smart home device manufacturers
Competitive Advantages (Historical)
- Android Ecosystem: Deep integration with Android
- Google Search: Powerful information retrieval capabilities
- Multilingual Support: Extensive language coverage
- Free Development: No developer fees
Market Performance
- Conversational Actions were discontinued in June 2023
- Google Assistant was replaced by Gemini on smart home devices in October 2025
- Google Assistant was completely replaced by Gemini on mobile phones in March 2026
- Developers were forced to migrate to the Gemini ecosystem or abandon it
Relationship with OpenClaw Ecosystem
The rise and fall of Google Actions provided important lessons for OpenClaw:
- Platform Risk: Closed platforms can shut down at any time, rendering developer investments futile. OpenClaw's open-source model mitigates this risk.
- Ecosystem Migration Cost: The migration cost for 800M+ devices is enormous. Standardized protocols (MCP) help reduce migration costs.
- Gemini Transition: Google's shift from Actions to Gemini+MCP validates the direction of OpenClaw/MCP.
- Google Workspace CLI: Google released a Workspace CLI MCP server with 100+ Agent Skills, indicating that major players are embracing the OpenClaw/MCP standard.
Information Sources
External References
Learn more from these authoritative sources: