Google Unveils Gemini for Home: A New Era for Smart Home AI

Google's Smart Home Devices Are Finally Getting Gemini's AI Skills

Gemini for Home will replace the Google Assistant in the company's line of smart displays and speakers, a step up in capabilities for its smart home devices, Google said Wednesday. Gemini for Home will use AI models tuned for home tasks and will work with any member of the household, including guests, the company said in a press release alongside its Made By Google event in New York. It'll work with the same "hey Google" activation phrase, but Gemini for Home can better understand context with the ability for users to ask more complex questions. Nest smart displays, speakers, thermostats and smart lights can interact with Gemini for Home. For example, users can have Gemini for Home dim lights and set the thermostat to 72 degrees in one command. Google's blog post also says commands like "turn off the lights everywhere except my bedroom" will also work. Because Gemini for Home will tap into the power of large language models, a Nest Hub smart speaker can be prompted with what ingredients are in your fridge and will be able to process which recipes to consider. Gemini for Home also links to Google Search, meaning it can find and use up-to-date information. Gemini for Home could also create bespoke content, like a bedtime story. It's unclear now exactly which devices will support Gemini for Home. It's likely the current line of Nest devices will support it, but Google's blog post makes no mention of older Google smart speakers or the Pixel Tablet. Google didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Google's AI push is spreading the company's generative technology across all of its devices and services. From Google Search, Gmail, Pixel phones and now smart home devices, Gemini is in everything. Unlike OpenAI, creators of ChatGPT, Google can spread its AI tech across a wide product portfolio. Google's early investments in AI means the company is ahead of Apple, which has been struggling to bake AI into its suite of devices. The rollout of Apple Intelligence on iPhone, which was made in partnership with OpenAI, has been slow by comparison to Google and other smartphone makers. The AI-ification of Google seems to be working. Google reported 14% increase in sales this past quarter, thanks to increased Google Search usage and higher cloud sales.

Google Gemini Is Finally Conquering Nest Devices -- Will It Fix Voice Assistant Woes?

Expertise Smart home | Smart security | Home tech | Energy savings | A/V After months of teasers and brief betas, Google has made it official: Gemini AI is replacing Google Assistant on all Nest and Google Home-related devices this year, officially called Gemini for Home. This version of Gemini starts rolling out in October with the same familiar "Hey Google" phrase but a whole new approach to voice commands. It's not only the death knell for Google Assistant in basically everything (I'm going to have to delete Assistant from the rest of my guides), but also a chance for Google to address lingering voice assistant issues. For more than a year, CNET has been concerned that Google Assistant just can't compete in the smart home, citing lost reliability and poor performance on basic home voice commands. We're not alone, either: Multiple social threads in recent months have talked about Google Home glitches and lost capabilities where it could once follow voice commands with ease. Some users worried that Google Assistant was being sacrificed on the altar of Gemini AI. If that's what happened, we're about to find out if the brand-new home voice assistant can make everything better again. Gemini has already appeared in other facets of the smart home and Google Home app, notably with the ability to ask questions about security video footage and some Gemini-enhanced Google Assistant trials. Now, users will be able to ask Gemini to control smart lights, change the temperature, play music or set timers. Those are common voice assistant tasks, but Google says Gemini AI will bring additional tricks to the table. That includes the possibility of more complex home commands like, "Hey Google, set a timer for boiling Yukon potatoes until soft" or "Play that one popular song from K-Pop Demon Hunters." Conversational AI also means you can bounce back with follow-up questions or requests for more info without needing to "Hey Google" your way through command steps every time. Such promises sound familiar, but have been slow to reach the home. Gemini at Home follows with the ongoing trials of Alexa Plus, which is going through a very slow rollout with promised features not yet available, as well as the news that the advancements in Apple's Siri AI will have to wait until at least next year. That leaves Gemini with the sudden opportunity to be the first fully launched conversational AI in the smart home world, if it can leapfrog Alexa Plus in its rollout schedule. Thus far, Gemini rollouts have been on time and relatively speedy, so I think it has a shot. But come October, Gemini for Home has to prove that it's fixed the ongoing problems with Google Assistant's accuracy and dropped smart capabilities. I'm hopeful -- Google Assistant didn't need so much a band-aid as it needed a full rework, and that's certainly what Gemini is. But I need to see how it actually performs in home routine tasks to make a final call. If you're curious too, look for invites to the first rollout coming in October. I'll be doing the same to see just how my Nest devices respond to the big change. We've seen what Gemini can do on a phone. Now it's time to see how useful it is around the home.

Gemini for Home is Google's biggest smart home play in years

This new voice assistant, powered by Google's Gemini artificial intelligence, will eventually replace Google Assistant on Google's Nest smart speakers and displays for hands-free control of things like smart lights, music, setting timers, and answering questions. Rollout begins in October through an early access program, with both free and paid tiers available. Google says you'll still summon the assistant with "Hey Google," and it will work across all your home devices and for every member of your household, as well as visitors.

Your Google Home setup is getting its long-awaited Gemini upgrade soon - what to expect

Amid the launch news of Made by Google phones and other devices, Google is also upgrading its Assistant for smart home users. Gemini for Home will replace Google Assistant for Google Home customers, enabling more natural, informative, and efficient conversations for users. Think of Gemini for Home as if ChatGPT became your smart home assistant. Instead of an "If this, then that" behavior or following simple commands one at a time, Gemini will be able to have longer, more natural conversations with you, letting you give it more complex prompts than simply "Turn on the living room lamp." Also: Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: I tested both Android phones, and here's the winner "Gemini for Home uses the advanced reasoning, inference, and search capabilities of our most capable models, making it both more powerful and easier to use than Google Assistant," wrote Anish Kattukaran, Google Home's chief product officer, in a blog post. "You still say, 'Hey Google' to get started, but your interactions will feel fundamentally new. Gemini will understand the context and get it done, and we're replacing rigid commands so you can use more nuanced or complex requests, too." If you've ever used Google Home, Amazon Alexa, or Apple's Siri, you're likely familiar with how inefficient these virtual assistants can be. While they're helpful, there's still a lot of room for improvement for AI assistants. Thanks to generative AI, Google is hoping to step that up with Gemini for Home. Also: I've tested every major foldable phone on the market - here's why Google is suddenly winning The new Gemini for Home -- or Gemini, for short -- is built on Google's most advanced AI models of the same name, making it smarter and more capable than Google Assistant. Essentially, Google is finally bringing its successful Gemini assistant to the smart home, upgrading your Google Home setup to work more intuitively than before. Here's what that may look like: With Gemini, you can use your existing speakers and displays to give your voice assistant commands to control your smart home, calendar, reminders, TV, and more. Google is rolling out both free and paid versions of Gemini for Home, though it is unclear what each option will include; advanced features may end up behind a paywall. Gemini for Home's early access begins in October. Also: Your smart home device just got a performance and security boost for free While the upside of Gemini for Home is that your voice assistant will be able to handle complexity and be more of a contributing partner than a task executor, some users may feel uneasy about the prospect of Gemini learning from their data. It's also worth noting that AI bots are imperfect, prone to making reasoning errors and misunderstanding commands. While Google promises that Gemini for Home will be much smarter than Google Assistant, users should be cautious of who is giving commands and what they're asking to avoid unexpected results. Gemini replacing Google Assistant is akin to Amazon's launch of Alexa+, which is still in its early access stage, available to a limited number of users. Alexa+ uses generative AI, like ChatGPT and Gemini, to let users have natural conversations with more context and personalization.

Gemini for Home is coming to replace Assistant -- but is your smart home ready for its changes?

For the past couple years, Google has been working to flesh out its next-gen AI efforts, and offering us plenty of opportunities to try out that progress for ourselves. But now in 2025, Gemini is becoming less of an option, and more of an inevitability. That's already started with Assistant on our phones, and now we're getting ready for it to extend across smart speakers and displays, as Google shares its plans about Gemini for Home. Gemini for Home will be ready to handle many of the same sort of tasks you rely on Assistant for now, like navigating smart home controls, playing media, and helping you organize your day. Compared to Assistant, Google says users can look forward to a system that's better able to understand even complex requests -- like adjusting smart home settings everywhere except for a specific room. And just like you're familiar with from on your phone, it will be happy to try answering whatever questions you throw at it.

Gemini could finally fix Google for Home's broken automations

Google Home app's big update: Temperature scheduling for older Nest Thermostats is here Google has been pushing Gemini into every corner of its ecosystem this year, and now it's coming for smart speakers and displays. Starting in October, early access to Gemini for Home will roll out, marking the beginning of the end for Google Assistant as the default voice control for smart home devices. This substitution could be the update that fixes the countless broken automations and other headaches Google Home users frequently encounter. Gemini to the rescue Could this be the fix Google Home users have been begging for? Google Home users have been complaining about myriad broken Google Home functions for well over a year, with little evidence of an overarching fix in the works, and Gemini could finally be it. Gemini for Home can handle all the things Assistant does today -- controlling lights, playing music, running routines, managing calendars -- but with more ease. It allows for more conversational language, so you can say something like, "Turn off all the lights except in the kitchen," instead of a more carefully worded command. This more natural language control could fix issues Assistant had with scheduling. Its inconsistent language recognition made it only moderately reliable, whereas Gemini should be able to take on requests like, "Set the AC to 75 degrees in half an hour," as you're on your way home from dinner. How Gemini is already working with smart homes Google's increasing Gemini for Home integration builds on groundwork laid last year, when the chatbot and AI agent first arrived in the Google Home app. At launch, it was little more than an experiment. Over time, though, Gemini has started to outpace Assistant at juggling complex, conversational requests. Some ambitious users have already ditched traditional Google Home Routines in favor of Gemini's flexibility. Instead of programming fixed automations that don't necessarily streamline with real life, Gemini smart homes rely on the software's understanding of natural language to improvise. This (sometimes) results in faster, more reliable control, without the need to memorize exact device names or collect tons of shortcuts. The cost of improvement Of course, Gemini isn't perfect. The AI still stumbles in certain cases where Assistant's years of refinement shines through, like when handling multiple calendars or switching languages on the fly. Furthermore, we don't yet know how many of Gemini for Home's features will land behind a paywall. Google has confirmed the existence of both free and paid tiers, though it hasn't indicated where the cutoff will be. Given how premium Gemini access already works on phones (including advanced reasoning being reserved for subscribers), there's reason to question if seemingly "basic" smart home features might eventually cost extra. So, while the upcoming Gemini for Home promises more intuitive and versatile control, it also raises some questions. If you've built your smart home around Assistant's quirks and workarounds, you'll want to brace yourself: Gemini is the future, and soon it won't be optional. Early access begins in October, with an expanding transition following shortly after. For now, we'll be watching closely to see if Gemini can deliver on its promise of a truly flexible, conversational smart home. Hopefully, it can do so without breaking the habits and setups users have relied on for years. And in the best-case scenario, Gemini's arrival fixes some of the many problems we've seen arise over time.

Gemini is finally replacing Google Assistant in Google Home -- what you need to know

While Google spent the day announcing the new Pixel 10 lineup, you may have missed an under-the-radar update coming to Google Home that could change how you use your smart home. Starting in October, Google's AI assistant Gemini is slated to replace Google Assistant on the company's smart home devices like the Google Nest Hub. In a blog post that went up today (August 20), Google announced that the Gemini update will be available for both free and paid versions of Google Home, in a move that seems similar to how Amazon is positioning Alexa+. Google demoed Gemini for Google Home during CES 2025 with the best look we got at the update coming with Gemini on Google TV. At the time, Google promised that the AI model would enable more natural language conversations with your smart devices. Speaking conversationally with Gemini should still give you the results you expect, whether it's getting live sports scores or adjusting your Nest Thermostat. Beyond prompting, Gemini should integrate inputs from other Nest devices, like a video doorbell, to answer more complex questions and prompts about your home. You could also use Gemini to coordinate things -- for example, telling your Nest device to "add the ingredients to make an authentic Italian lasagna to my shopping list." Additionally, Gemini Live will be part of the update, which should make for even more personalized conversations. "You can also interrupt responses to refine or redirect the discussion, so you get the specific information you're looking for quickly," Google said in the post. Gemini in Google Home launches in early access in October. It's not clear how Gemini will roll out, but Google says it will "share more details soon." For example, we don't know how much it will cost, and what features will be locked away behind a paywall. Currently, Nest Aware subscribers pay $10 a month and are expected to be on the early access list. Potentially, the update could coincide with the release of new Google Home devices. The last Nest Hub launched in 2021, and the most recent Pixel tablet came out in 2023. We're still waiting on the Pixel Tablet 2.

Gemini with Google Home is poised to give Alexa+ some serious competition

What's happened? Google has announced Gemini for Home, a way to integrate all the power of Gemini AI with your smart home setup. The company says the move makes it "both more powerful and easier to use than Google Assistant." Trigger words remain the same; you'll still say, "Hey Google" to get started. Users will be able to make more natural, fluid requests instead of sticking with rigid phrase structures. The Gemini Live functionality will let you have a back-and-forth talk with Gemini right from your Google smart home devices. Why this is important: Amazon recently launched Alexa+, a service that brings similar functionality to the Alexa platform. Gemini for Home could match and potentially exceed Alexa+ in terms fo capabilities. Gemini for Home lets users issue multiple commands at once instead of one at a time. It also simplifies day-to-day tasks, with one example being "add the ingredients to make an authentic Italian lasagna to my shopping list." Gemini For Home makes media discovery easier and allows users to request vague content, such as saying "play the song of the year winner from 1990." Recommended Videos Why should I care? The addition of true AI capabilities to the smart home assistant can take a home from just smart to bloody brilliant. Gemini for Home (and also Alexa+) represents another step toward the kind of intuitive smart home experience companies have strived for since the beginning. Gemini can make even complex tasks, like telling a bedtime story, significantly easier. You can ask for help troubleshooting common household problems. Gemini for Home means your smart assistant can be an actual assistant, rather than a go-between for issuing commands to smart devices.

Gemini for Home: Your household's new, more helpful assistant

Home is where we connect with family, manage daily routines and unwind. Nearly a decade ago the Google Assistant pioneered the role of a helpful voice in the home, introducing millions to the convenience of managing simple tasks and getting quick answers, hands-free. Now, we're introducing an all-new voice assistant for the next generation of help at home: Gemini for Home. Gemini has already transformed expectations of what an AI assistant is capable of on our mobile devices. It provides direct access to Google's most advanced AI -- ready to brainstorm, problem-solve and create alongside you for virtually any topic imaginable. Gemini for Home is built on the same powerful AI models, with unique capabilities designed for the home. It offers reliable, hands-free help and can manage complex tasks across all of your home devices, assisting every member of your household, as well as visitors and guests. Gemini for Home uses the advanced reasoning, inference and search capabilities of our most capable models, making it both more powerful and easier to use than Google Assistant. You still say "Hey Google" to get started, but your interactions will feel fundamentally new. Gemini will understand the context and get it done, and we're replacing rigid commands so you can use more nuanced or complex requests, too. Here are a few ways Gemini for Home is better at assisting with daily tasks: Gemini Live is now coming to your home. With its intuitive conversational capabilities, it's easy to get detailed, personalized and expert help with whatever you're working on. Kick off a Gemini Live conversation with "Hey Google, let's chat" and from that point on, have a natural back-and-forth discussion (no more "Hey Google" required). Explore new concepts, learn a skill, brainstorm ideas or get personalized advice. You can also interrupt responses to refine or redirect the discussion, so you get the specific information you're looking for quickly. Over time, Gemini for Home will replace Google Assistant on existing speakers and displays, with free and paid versions. We will begin early access in October and share more details soon.

Google Unveils AI Voice Assistant for the Home | PYMNTS.com

"You still say 'Hey Google' to get started, but your interactions will feel fundamentally new," the post said. "Gemini will understand the context and get it done, and we're replacing rigid commands so you can use more nuanced or complex requests, too." Examples include finding music by description, such as "Play the song of the year winner from 1990" or "Play that song from this year's summer blockbuster about race cars," according to the post. Gemini can also execute multiple commands at once, such as "Dim the lights and set the temperature to 72 degrees," and interpret exceptions like "Turn off the lights everywhere except my bedroom," per the post. The assistant can coordinate daily routines by creating shopping lists, setting cooking timers and adding calendar events, the post said. It can also answer open-ended questions, such as "How can I keep raccoons out of my backyard at night?" or "What's the best time of year to visit the Greek islands?" Gemini Live will allow for ongoing conversations without repeatedly saying the wake phrase, according to the post. Users can launch the mode by saying, "Hey Google, let's chat," per the post. Gemini Live supports tasks such as step-by-step cooking help, troubleshooting home appliances, planning meals or brainstorming a bedtime story. "Gemini for Home uses the advanced reasoning, inference and search capabilities of our most capable models, making it both more powerful and easier to use than Google Assistant," the post said. Read also: Amazon Plans to Release 'Constellation' of AI-Powered Devices The upgrade comes as trust in voice assistants has declined, according to the 2024 PYMNTS Intelligence report "GenAI and Voice Assistants: Adoption and Trust Across Generations." The main reason for the decrease may be a perceived lack of improvement and reliability in voice assistants. While the report focused on trusting AI during unexpected events like changing one's appointments due to a flight delay, it found that 60% of consumers said they believe in the future capabilities of voice assistants in 2024, down from 73% in 2023. Moreover, only 8% of those surveyed said voice assistants are just as smart and reliable as humans. "Consumers, especially younger ones, often have high hopes and lofty expectations for technological advancements," the report said. "Early adopters and digital natives might even tolerate some flaws and inconsistencies as emerging technology matures. However, patience will wear thin when these issues persist over time, leading to decreased trust at scale." GenAI and Voice Assistants: Adoption and Trust Across Generations