Google Launches ‘Gemini For Home’ in AI-Powered Smart Home Overhaul
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Google Home’s suite of products includes well-known devices like Nest thermostats and cameras, Google Nest Audio and Nest Mini speakers, as well as the Nest Hub and Hub Max. In addition to its own products, Google Home is compatible with devices from third parties like TVs, lights, switches, soundbars, air purifiers, air conditioners, fans, smart door locks, and motion sensors.
To date, Google Home has been powered by Google Assistant, which allows rudimentary voice commands similar to Siri and is initiated by saying, “Hey Google.” This week, Google announced “Gemini for Home,” which effectively replaces Google Assistant with Gemini’s AI chatbot. At the same time, it also launched an updated Google Home app, plus new cameras, doorbells, and speakers designed for Gemini.
Gemini for Home is activated with a “Hey Google, let’s chat” command, while the old Google Assistant can still be called up with a simple “Hey Google” for basic tasks. Gemini offers 10 natural-sounding voice options and, unlike Assistant, can maintain conversations like a real person. This allows for more complicated requests — such as troubleshooting a broken appliance, adding ingredients to a meal plan, or managing connected devices individually. Users can even create automations simply by asking Gemini questions.
Gemini for Home also brings an additional new feature called Home Brief. Home Brief consolidates daily events into AI summaries. It can condense videos captured via cameras into shorter clips of important events and even prioritize events and notifications for specific people, like children or the mailman, and even pets.
To use Gemini for Home, users must opt in to Early Access in the Google Home app. It’s still rolling out, so it may not be available for everyone yet. You’ll also need to subscribe if you want to fully take advantage of everything Gemini for Home has to offer.
A Standard plan costs $10/month or $100/year and provides 30 days of event-based doorbell and camera history, intelligent alerts for things like familiar faces and package detection, and Gemini Live (the conversational Gemini chatbot) on speakers and displays. For $20/month or $200/year, Advanced plan subscribers get the added benefits of 60-day event history, 24/7 doorbell and camera history for the previous 10 days, more descriptive AI event summaries and notifications, and the ability to search video history.
Meanwhile, despite a big head start, Apple has been moving more slowly in this area. Apple’s Home app provides similar accessory management to Google Home, and still packs in some powerful automations. However, voice control is still limited by Siri. There’s also no screen on the HomePod like there is on the Nest Hub or Hub Max — although Apple is reportedly working on adding one. While HomePod Software 26 was released last month, its updates to the HomePod and HomePod mini were primarily focused on Apple Music and AirPlay improvements and some performance and bug fixes. There are rumors that Apple is making strides towards finally delivering the Siri it promised. It looks like it will be playing catch-up in the smart home game — unless its rumored HomePod with a display arrives sooner than expected.
