Following a major hardware event from its competitor, Amazon, Google on Wednesday announced a significant overhaul of its smart home platform with the introduction of “Gemini for Home” and a new line of hardware designed to support it.
The tech giant is rolling out its Gemini AI to replace the Google Assistant on its speakers and displays, alongside a new Google Smart Speaker and updated Nest cameras, also a redesigned Google Home app.
Previously, home control with Gemini required the Gemini app with the Google Home extension. Nest speakers were still using the old Google Assistant.
Natural conversation
Gemini for Home is a new foundational intelligence layer designed to make smart home interactions more conversational and intuitive. Unlike the rigid commands required by previous assistants, Gemini can maintain conversational context, allowing users to ask follow-up questions without repeating the initial subject. For example, after asking about a dishwasher problem, a user can simply ask, “what should I check next?” and Gemini understands the context.
This contextual understanding extends to media and smart home control. Users can ask for a song by describing a scene from a movie, or request that lights be turned on in another room without specifying the room’s name. The system can now also handle complex commands with exceptions, such as “turn off all the lights, except for the office lights.” For more free-flowing brainstorming, a “Gemini Live” mode allows users to chat with the assistant without using the hotword for every interaction, making it useful for planning a meal or an event.
There are also 10 new voice lines with a more natural tone along with Gemini, according to Google.
A smarter way to control and build smart home
The Gemini update also transforms how Google’s smart cameras and doorbells function, shifting them from simple motion detectors to interpretive devices. Instead of generic alerts like “person detected,” Gemini provides semantic understanding, offering descriptive alerts like “a USPS delivery driver is placing a package on the porch.”
This is delivered through three core features. AI Descriptions provide narrative context directly in notifications. Home Brief automatically summarizes hours of footage into a digestible daily report of important events.
Finally, Ask Home allows users to search days of video history using natural language, asking questions like, “Did I leave the car door open?” In the Google Home app, the Ask Home feature also lets users create complex automations simply by describing what they want to happen, such as turning on porch lights at sunset.
New Google Smart Speaker for Gemini
Alongside the software, Google introduced the new Google Home Speaker, designed specifically for Gemini. The new speaker features a design language reminiscent of the Pixel family, with a matte, fabric finish. It’s offered in four color schemes: Jade, Berry, Porcelain and Hazel.
Google Smart Speaker features custom processing for faster AI interactions and a new light ring that provides visual feedback to show when Gemini is listening or thinking.
The speaker delivers 360 degree audio and can be paired with a Google TV Streamer for a home theater sound system, like how it works in Apple and Amazon ecosystems. It is sustainably made and includes a physical microphone mute switch for privacy. However, during the announcement, Google made no mention of Matter or Thread support for the new speaker. As of the press time, Google has yet to response to Matter Alpha.
Availability
Gemini for Home will roll out to most Google smart speakers, displays, and cameras from the last decade via an early access program beginning this month. Users can enroll through the Google Home app. The standard “Hey Google” voice assistant upgrade is included with existing devices. However, the more advanced features – including Gemini Live, Home Brief, and the Ask Home search and automation functions – will require a new Google Home Premium subscription. The plan starts at $10 per month and is also included with Google AI Pro and Ultra subscriptions.
The new Google Home Speaker is priced at $99.99 and is scheduled for release in the spring of 2026.
(Source: Google; Image Source: Google)
