Re: A better solution?
>Lighting conditions can change very quickly
I think people are confusing two different adjustments.
Firstly, my laptop has an ambient light sensor and can dynamically adjust the brightness of the display accordingly. I seem to remember that many phones also have this setting.
Secondly, there is the issue of circadian rhythms and the effect, specifically of blue light on the brain. iOS since whenever has had 'night shift', originally it was just a user defined schedule, but has in recent editions gained 'dark mode' which can be auto switched at 'sunset'.
I suspect Google were trying to be too clever with their scheduling, rather than simple run it off the user set timezone setting.