The Follower AI can be a bit glitchy at the best of times but, since arriving in Nightingale, my assistant's spent more time stuck in place on the map than being anywhere near me unless I stay slow and close.
As soon as I grapple or use my umbrella glider for extra speed, they're lagging way behind and eventually stop moving entirely. The teleport catch up mechanic doesn't seem to be applying and I can often stop and look back with a spyglass or the longbow zoom and see them just standing idle where the motion halted.
I've had the exact same problem. They almost never respawn at my side, regardless of the distance.
Agreed