Google Expands Gemini AI Integration with New Natural Voices for Nest Speakers
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Google is adding three new "natural" Gemini voices to Nest speakers
Google is adding three new Gemini-powered voices to the Nest Mini and Nest Audio smart speakers, bringing the number of Gemini-powered voices on those speakers to a respectable ten. Google starts the Gemini-fication of some Nest speakers in the wild Complete with telltale RGB lights Posts 3 This comes as part of Google's continued push to merge its new Gemini AI with the existing Google Assistant on its Nest speakers, and likely brings us one step closer to an eventual retirement of the venerable Assistant altogether. New voices are available in the preview build Experimental, and possibly only available in the US The three new voices join the seven added in December of 2024, and like the seven beforehand, the new three are all named after plants. Here are the three new voices and how Google describes them: Yarrow: Warm, deeper voice Croton: Smooth, deeper voice Pilea: Bright, higher voice The other seven, "improved Assistant voices", as Google terms it, are the following: Aloe: Calm, mid-range voice Oxalis: Bright, mid-range voice Fern: Bright, higher voice Verbena: Calm, deeper voice Ivy: British accent, mid-range voice Jade: Engaging, mid-range voice Eucalyptus: Australian Accent, higher voice These new voices aren't available to everyone though, as not only will you need those specific Nest Home devices, you'll also need to be enrolled in the Google Home Public Preview program -- and even then, you'll need to make sure the "Experimental AI features" is enabled too. But even then, you might not be able to access them, as multiple comments on the original article have posited that the feature is US-only -- though even some US-based users aren't able to access it. It's likely Google is rolling this out to a specific group of users, and the only way to know if you have it is to check. If you want to know if you have the new voices, you'll need to make sure "Experimental AI features" is enabled by tapping the Beaker icon in the Google Home app. Then, head to your Google Home Settings, select Google Assistant, then Assistant voice & sounds. If you, like me, don't have access to the new voices, well, you can at least enjoy the video uploaded by 9to5 Google. I'm personally quite fond of Eucalyptus's Australian tones, but Croton's smooth voice is also quite soothing. I would happily listen to Croton read me a bedtime story. On the whole, the Gemini rollout to Google's smart speakers has been a positive one, but it's highly likely the Assistant monikor will be retired when the rollout is completed, as happened on Google TV. That will be a sad farewell, but frankly, "Assistant" as a name does feel outdated in 2025. Related Gemini can't come to Google's smart speakers soon enough If I hear one more 'Sorry, I didn't understand'... Posts 20
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Google releases three new Gemini-Assistant voices for Nest Mini, Audio [Video]
As part of bringing Gemini (models) to Assistant on the Nest Mini and Audio, Google is adding more natural voices. Following the initial seven options added in December, Google recently introduced three more voices. The new options are once again named after plants: They join the existing "Improved Assistant voices" at the bottom: If you're enrolled in the Google Home Public Preview program, make sure the "Experimental AI features" toggle is enabled. Tap the beaker icon in the top-right corner of the Google Home app to check. Afterwards, go to the Google Home Settings tab > Google Assistant > Assistant voice & sounds. (On iOS, you might have to go to "Manage all Assistant settings" to access.) Google started testing a Gemini-powered Google Assistant in December on the Nest Mini and Audio. The Gemini models are used to "respond to a wider range of questions and provide more in-depth, AI-powered answers on general knowledge topics." When it finally launches on smart speakers and displays, Google might drop the "Assistant" brand entirely for Gemini, which is what happened on Google TV.
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Google adds three new Gemini-powered voices to Nest Mini and Nest Audio smart speakers, bringing the total to ten as part of its ongoing AI integration efforts.
Google Expands Gemini Voice Options for Nest Speakers
Google is taking another step towards integrating its Gemini AI technology into smart home devices by introducing three new natural voices for Nest Mini and Nest Audio speakers. This expansion brings the total number of Gemini-powered voices to ten, signaling a significant push towards enhancing the AI capabilities of Google's smart home ecosystem
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.New Voice Additions and Characteristics
The three newly added voices, continuing Google's trend of naming them after plants, are:
- Yarrow: Described as a warm, deeper voice
- Croton: Characterized as a smooth, deeper voice
- Pilea: Defined as a bright, higher voice
These additions complement the seven voices introduced in December 2024, which include Aloe, Oxalis, Fern, Verbena, Ivy, Jade, and Eucalyptus. Each voice is designed with unique characteristics, ranging from calm mid-range tones to accented variations like British and Australian
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.Availability and Access
The new voices are currently available in a preview build and may be limited to users in the United States. To access these voices, users need to meet several criteria:
- Own a Nest Mini or Nest Audio smart speaker
Source: 9to5Google
- Be enrolled in the Google Home Public Preview program
- Enable the "Experimental AI features" option
Even with these conditions met, access might still be restricted as Google appears to be rolling out the feature to a specific group of users
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.Checking for New Voices
Users can verify if they have access to the new voices by following these steps:
- Ensure "Experimental AI features" is enabled by tapping the Beaker icon in the Google Home app
- Navigate to Google Home Settings
- Select Google Assistant
- Choose Assistant voice & sounds
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Implications for Google Assistant
This expansion of Gemini-powered voices is part of Google's broader strategy to integrate Gemini AI with the existing Google Assistant on Nest speakers. Industry observers speculate that this move might eventually lead to the retirement of the Google Assistant brand, similar to what occurred with Google TV
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.The Gemini models are designed to enhance the capabilities of smart speakers, allowing them to "respond to a wider range of questions and provide more in-depth, AI-powered answers on general knowledge topics"
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.User Reception and Future Outlook
Initial reactions to the Gemini rollout on Google's smart speakers have been largely positive. Some users have expressed preferences for specific voices, such as the Australian-accented Eucalyptus or the smooth-toned Croton
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Source: Android Police
As Google continues to refine and expand its AI-powered voice assistant capabilities, the integration of Gemini into smart home devices represents a significant step forward in the evolution of voice-controlled AI technology. The ongoing developments suggest a future where AI assistants become increasingly natural and versatile in their interactions with users.
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