Google is introducing Gemini for Home, an upgrade that replaces the legacy Google Assistant on smart speakers and displays while extending AI features across the Google Home app, Nest cameras, and doorbells.
The shift means interactions with Google’s smart home devices will feel more like natural conversations. Gemini supports 10 new natural-sounding voices and can keep track of context across multiple questions, so users don’t need to repeat details each time. For example, someone troubleshooting a dishwasher can ask follow-up questions without starting over.
Media playback is also getting smarter. Instead of remembering exact titles, users can describe content more loosely—like “play that song from the camp dance scene”—and Gemini will try to identify it. For household tasks, Gemini can add ingredients to a shopping list based on a recipe name or set timers by food type, such as “cook a ribeye steak”.
In smart home control, Gemini removes the need for precise device names. Commands like “turn on the lights” can adjust the right room based on where the user is, and requests can now include exceptions, such as “turn off all the lights except the office”.
The upgrade also affects cameras. Instead of generic alerts like “motion detected,” Nest devices can provide richer descriptions, such as noting a delivery driver leaving a package. This is similar to AI summaries we’ve seen from Amazon’s Ring cameras. A new feature called Home Brief summarizes the day’s events, while Ask Home lets people search video history with natural language, asking things like “What time did the kids get home?”. That’s pretty smart.
Gemini Live, a new mode, allows ongoing conversations without repeating the wake phrase. Users can brainstorm meal ideas or event planning with continuous back-and-forth dialogue. Some of these features will be included in the new Google Home Premium subscription, which starts at $10 per month (CAD pricing to follow, stay tuned).
The rollout begins in October through early access in the Google Home app, with existing Google speakers, displays, and Nest devices from the past decade eligible to receive the update. Check out the full list below:
Speakers
Smart Displays
Cameras
Doorbells
Are you excited to get a free upgrade to Gemini on your older Google or Nest device? That is going to be a sweet upgrade.
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Can't wait to try this out!