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Google Assistant has sometimes answered insults or profanity with a polite request to stop, including “Please don’t talk to me that way.” The response is a programmed conversational script—not evidence that the assistant feels hurt. Reports place these exchanges on Nest and Google Home devices, but the exact response and Assistant availability can vary by device, account, and country.

Why did Google Assistant tell you not to talk to it that way?

In a report published October 18, 2021, Chrome Unboxed described Google Assistant users receiving calm pushback after insulting or swearing at the assistant on Nest and Google Home devices. The reported replies included “Please don’t talk to me that way,” “I’m sorry, I’m trying my best,” and “I’m just an AI, but your words still matter.” Chrome Unboxed’s report presents these as responses users encountered, not as a guarantee that every device will say the same thing.

The likeliest explanation is conversational design: the assistant acknowledges the insult briefly, sets a boundary in a polite tone, and can then return to the task. A similar calm-response pattern was described in a May 27, 2026 TechBloat article, which cited lines such as “I’d rather not be talked to that way” and “That makes me uncomfortable.” That later account is secondary reporting, so the 2021 examples are the better-documented ones.

Does Google Assistant have feelings?

No. A line that sounds hurt or uncomfortable is generated language, not evidence that Google Assistant has human emotions or consciousness. The wording can be socially expressive without the software having an inner experience.

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Does saying “please” or “thank you” change Assistant’s response?

Google has experimented with courtesy-oriented responses. TechCrunch reported on November 29, 2018, that a feature commonly called Pretty Please made Assistant “a bit more cheery” when users said “please” or “thank you.” TechCrunch’s report supports the point that Google designed some responses to acknowledge courtesy; it does not show that polite phrasing makes answers more accurate.

Which devices and settings are relevant?

The reported profanity responses concerned Nest and Google Home hardware. Google’s product information describes household uses for Assistant on Google Home devices, including everyday requests around the home. Google’s Google Home product page provides that product context.

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Conversation behavior also depends on device settings. Google says Continued Conversation uses voice and sensor signals to determine whether a conversation is continuing, and may send audio to Google servers when it detects continuation. Google’s Help page also notes that Assistant can learn frequently used words and phrases on Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. Google’s Continued Conversation help page explains the feature and its controls.

Google’s current Play listing describes Assistant tasks such as reminders, lists, questions, and directions. It also says switching back from Gemini to Google Assistant is rolling out to selected devices and countries. As a result, which assistant is available—and what it says—can depend on the device, account, and region. Google Assistant’s Google Play listing describes the current app and rollout caveat.

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What should you do if Assistant responds this way?

  • If you were trying to complete a task, repeat the request in a neutral phrase; a polite response does not by itself mean the assistant has stopped working.
  • If you do not want the device to keep listening for follow-up, review Continued Conversation settings using Google’s Help page.
  • If the assistant on your device is Gemini rather than Google Assistant, check the device and account’s available assistant settings; Google describes the switch back to Assistant as limited to selected devices and countries.

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