Google launches Gemini for Home: Smarter voice assistant for Nest smart devices

Gemini for Home marks the biggest upgrade to Google Home since the launch of the first smart display over six years ago. Anish Kattukaran, Chief Product Officer of Google Home and Nest, explained that the assistant leverages advanced reasoning, inference, and search capabilities to understand context and intent more accurately than previous versions. Users can expect interactions that feel more intuitive and capable of handling complex tasks.

Smarter Assistance for Daily Tasks

One of the key strengths of Gemini for Home is its ability to process complex commands. Users can issue instructions such as turning off lights in all rooms except one, setting precise timers, or playing very specific music selections. It can also help create and manage lists, calendar events, and reminders more efficiently than earlier iterations. These improvements allow households to rely on the assistant for a wide range of tasks without repeated clarification.

The assistant also features Gemini Live, which enables extended conversational interactions. Users no longer need to say “Hey Google” for each command, allowing for a more natural back-and-forth dialogue. This can be particularly useful in cooking, planning purchases, or troubleshooting household appliances. Gemini Live also supports creative activities, such as generating bedtime stories or brainstorming ideas, providing a richer, more interactive experience.

Google’s introduction of Gemini for Home positions the company to compete more effectively with Amazon’s Alexa Plus, which has already been integrated into millions of households. Previous incremental Gemini upgrades offered new voices, conversational responses, and AI-powered Nest camera features, but these stopped short of a complete overhaul. Gemini for Home now provides a fully capable assistant that can handle multiple complex tasks simultaneously and respond intelligently to nuanced queries.

The rollout is planned for October through an early access program with free and paid tiers. Pricing for the paid tier has not been announced, but it may be bundled with existing services such as Nest Aware or Google One. Because the assistant can control critical devices like locks, appliances, and heating systems, Google is expected to take a cautious approach to the rollout, gradually expanding access to ensure reliability. New hardware could accompany the launch, as Google has not refreshed its Nest smart speakers or displays since 2021. Devices optimised for Gemini for Home would allow users to fully leverage the assistant’s capabilities, ensuring both software and hardware work seamlessly together.

Gemini for Home represents a significant leap forward for Google Home, combining advanced AI, context-aware interactions, and comprehensive home control. This upgrade demonstrates Google’s commitment to enhancing the smart home experience and offering a more capable and responsive assistant for modern households.