Google Integrates Gemini AI with Google Home for Advanced Smart Home Control

Google Gemini is your new smart home butler

The aim is to make smart homes more intuitive and easier to manage Google wants Gemini to control your smart home devices and has upgraded the Gemini app with a new Google Home extension to manage all of your connected devices the same way you'd ask the AI assistant to answer any other query. So if you have the Gemini app and devices controlled by Google Home, you can link Gemini to your Google Home account. The extension links Gemini with your lights, thermostats, and any other smart home devices, but with the benefit of Gemini's more flexible conversational ability. That means you could say, "It's too bright in here," and have Gemini dim the lights instead of needing to command setting the lights to 50% specifically. You can also manage multiple devices with more casual language. Rather than individually tweaking device settings, you can say, "Dim the living room lights, turn on the bedroom lamp, and lower the blinds." Gemini can grasp the three commands for three sets of devices and act accordingly. The same goes for media controls. Gemini can adjust volume, playback, and other aspects of your music and video players with the same flexibility. And if you're trying to secure your home, Gemini can automatically open the Google Home app when dealing with cameras and locks, so your sensitive data stays secure. One standout feature is its ability to answer burning questions like, "Did I leave the porch light on?" Gemini will check and let you know, saving you from awkwardly walking outside in your pajamas to check for yourself. Thanks to Gemini Live, you can even control some devices directly from your phone's lock screen. Google has battled Amazon Alexa, Apple's Siri, and other smart home assistants for years, but Gemini and its natural language controls might give the company an edge as people await Amazon's planned Alexa upgrade or experiment with similar assistants from smaller brands. Smart homes have always been about convenience, but Google seems to be banking on people wanting a home that pays closer attention to residents and their needs. For now, that attention is limited to practical tasks like dimming lights or playing music. But as AI continues to evolve, who knows? Maybe one day you'll tell your house, "I'm stressed," and it'll brew you a cup of tea, dim the lights, and cue up a soothing playlist. Even with imperfections, Gemini's new feature is a promising step toward the company's dream of incorporating Gemini in every aspect of your life. Gemini is becoming an everyday assistant that knows the difference between you asking to make things cooler by turning off the thermostat and making things cooler by turning on mood lighting and Barry White.

Google Home users can ask Gemini to control their smart homes now - how it works

Rolling out to all users this week, the new integration lets you ask the AI bot to turn lights on or off or control other smart devices. Google Home users are getting a free smart home upgrade, as Gemini will now be able to control their devices. The Gemini mobile app's new integrations, rolling out to the public, let you ask Google's most capable AI assistant to control your smart home devices as intuitively as you would ask the AI to generate text. Gemini, Google's latest AI assistant, is a generative AI tool that can generate text and discuss topics with you conversationally, making the interaction almost as natural as speaking to another person. Also: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra hands-on: One day later, I'm slowly becoming an AI phone believer The new Google Home integration enables users to open the Gemini app and ask the AI bot to turn lights on or off or control other smart devices. Giving the Gemini App this functionality brings Google that much closer to making Gemini the default AI assistant across all Google apps. It also makes controlling your smart home easier than ever, being one of the few available smart home assistants with the power of generative AI. Here's how that would look like compared to what you'd experience now: Imagine sitting in your living room on a cloudy day, trying to read a book on your favorite chair, when you realize it's suddenly too dark. If you have Amazon Alexa, you may ask: If you use the Gemini app with the Google Home integration, you could use a single prompt: You can use more nuanced prompts, like "Get the house ready for bedtime but set the temperature a little warmer," to have Gemini tell your smart thermostat to set the temperature a degree or two warmer than the previous night. Also: Samsung appliances are about to get smarter and wiser - thanks to AI With the new integration, Google Home users will be able to control the following devices from the Gemini mobile app: lights, outlets, plugs, thermostats, fans, blinds, curtains, TVs, speakers, washers, coffee makers, vacuums -- and more, as long as they've been added in the Google Home app. This update has been in public preview for the past couple of months and is rolling out to all Google Home users over the coming weeks.

You Can Now Control Google Home Connected Devices With Gemini

Gemini cannot complete security device actions that require a pin Google Home extension for Gemini is reportedly rolling out to all users. As per a report, the new extension will be shipped globally over the coming weeks. The extension will allow the Gemini app on Android and iOS to control and manage Google Home-connected smart home devices. This will allow users to type or speak natural language commands, and the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot can understand the context to complete the task. Currently, Gemini can manage Google Workspace apps, Google Maps, YouTube, YouTube Music, and more. According to a 9to5Google report, the Google Home Gemini extension has started rolling out to all Gemini users on Android and iOS. The extension was first released as a public preview in November 2024, and now it is expected to be available globally over the next few weeks. Some users have already reported seeing it, however, Gadgets 360 staff members were not able to verify its presence. Once the extension becomes visible, users can turn it on through either the Gemini web client or the app. Those on the web client can click Settings > Extensions > Google Home and toggle the button next to it. On the app, users can tap on their profile picture, find Extensions menu, and look for @Google Home. After locating it, users will have to tap the toggle button. As per Google's support page, the new Gemini extension can access smart home appliances such as lights, sockets, switches, air conditioning units, thermostats, fans, curtains, smart TVs, speakers, washing machines, and more. One thing to note here is that the devices must be connected to Google Home. With Gemini, users will be able to make multi-step and complex commands in natural language, and the AI chatbot will be able to complete the action. For instance, users can tell the app to "Set the hall for a gaming session," and it will be able to set the lights and AC to preferred settings and turn on the Google TV-powered smart TV. Similarly, it can also understand vague commands such as "Set the AC to a temperature comfortable for sleeping." However, there are certain limitations. The feature works with both text and audio inputs but can only accept English language prompts currently. Additionally, the extension does not support commands for security devices that require a pin and it cannot stream video feed from cameras. It also cannot execute routines currently.