The second generation of the Pixel Watch is expected to feature an on-device Assistant, similar to the one found on Apple’s Watch Series 9.
Google has been promoting its on-device processing for various devices that are compatible with Assistant, such as smart speakers, Pixel phones, Android Auto, and even Wear OS watches. However, these claims do not have a significant impact on the user experience since Google Assistant becomes unresponsive when there is no internet connection.
If you are not connected to the internet, Assistant will stop working on any device such as a phone, speaker, or smartwatch.
When your Nest Audio device is not connected to the internet, it will not be able to respond to basic inquiries such as “What time is it?”. Similarly, if your Google Pixel phone is offline, the Assistant will not be able to activate the phone’s flashlight. If your Pixel Watch is not linked to a network, the Assistant will be unable to set a 10-minute timer. Even if Google is able to process your voice locally and comprehend your command, it still needs to send the request to a server via Wi-Fi or through a connected phone in order to provide a response or carry out the requested action. Therefore, when you are offline, all functions relying on Google’s voice assistant will be unavailable. Attempting to use the assistant will result in an error and you will not be able to speak your command.
