According to Inc, Google is shutting down the “Works with Nest” program on September 29, 2024. This action will permanently disable a critical API that allows second-generation Nest Learning Thermostats and other legacy devices to communicate with and be controlled by third-party smart home platforms. The core hardware of these thermostats, first introduced by founder Tony Fadell in 2011, remains physically functional. However, by cutting off this integration, Google is effectively killing the feature that allowed users to perform simple, vital actions—like remotely turning on their heat before heading home. This decision impacts countless devices that were sold with the promise of an open, connected smart home ecosystem.
The Broken Promise
Here’s the thing: this isn’t about a gadget wearing out. It’s about a company arbitrarily revoking a capability. The article nails it—the genius of the early Nest wasn’t just the learning algorithm. It was the sheer, simple utility of opening an app from anywhere and making your house comfortable. That was the magic. And Google is now pulling that rug out from under devices that are, by all mechanical accounts, perfectly fine. It’s a software kill switch. So what does this tell us about the stuff we’re filling our homes with? That our “ownership” is incredibly fragile and subject to the whims of a corporate parent. Not a great feeling for what’s supposed to be foundational home infrastructure.
A Cautionary Tale for Everything Connected
This move is a flashing red warning light for the entire Internet of Things. We’re buying hardware with an expiration date set by a server in a distant data center. Think about it. Your thermostat, your lights, your security cameras—their core functionality can be altered or removed long before the physical product fails. This creates a perverse incentive for manufacturers, doesn’t it? Planned obsolescence isn’t just about cheap parts anymore; it’s about ending software support to push you toward a new, locked-in ecosystem. For industries that rely on durable, long-term hardware—like manufacturing or industrial automation—this cloud-dependent model is a non-starter. That’s why in those fields, you see a strong preference for robust, serviceable, and locally controlled industrial panel PCs from top suppliers, where the operator maintains full control over the machine’s lifecycle, not a software vendor.
Where Do We Go From Here?
The trajectory seems clear, and it’s not great for consumer choice. Big players like Google, Amazon, and Apple want you inside their walled gardens. Interoperability—the dream of a truly mixed-brand smart home—is becoming a casualty. This Nest move is a stark example of that consolidation. So what’s the future? Probably more proprietary hubs, more mandatory accounts, and more features that can vanish with a blog post. For consumers, the lesson is to be deeply skeptical of any “smart” device that requires a cloud connection to perform its basic job. Look for local control options, open standards like Matter (though even that has caveats), or just accept that your gadget might turn into a dumb brick on a corporate schedule. The smart home dream promised convenience. The reality, too often, is vulnerability.
