Prime Highlights
- Google introduces Gemini for Home to replace Google Assistant on home devices.
- Gemini offers smarter context handling, natural conversations, and multitasking capabilities that set it apart from the old version.
Key Facts
- The service launches in October, starting with early access for Google Home and Nest device users.
- Works on existing Google speakers and displays; offered in free and paid versions.
Background
Google announced on Wednesday (Aug. 20) that it will replace its decade-old Google Assistant with Gemini, a smarter and more user-friendly AI-powered voice assistant. The company said Gemini for Home will roll out in October, starting with early access users of Google Home and Nest devices, according to its blog post.
According to Anish Kattukaran, Chief Product Officer at Google Home and Nest, the new assistant will feel “fundamentally new.” While users will still begin with the familiar command “Hey Google,” Gemini will better understand context and respond to more natural and complex requests.
Unlike the older version, Gemini can carry out multiple instructions at once. For example, users can say, “Dim the lights and set the temperature to 72 degrees,” or create exceptions like “Turn off the lights everywhere except my bedroom.” It can also perform tasks such as setting timers, building shopping lists, managing calendars, and answering open-ended questions like the best season to visit Greece.
A new feature called Gemini Live will let users continue conversations without repeating the wake phrase. By saying, “Hey Google, let’s chat,” the assistant can help with step-by-step cooking, appliance troubleshooting, meal planning, or even creating bedtime stories.
Google’s move comes at a time when consumer trust in voice assistants has fallen. A 2024 PYMNTS Intelligence report found only 60 percent of users believe in the future potential of these tools, compared with 73 percent in 2023. Just 8 percent said current assistants are as smart as humans, though twice as many expect that standard to be met within two years.
With Gemini’s expansion into homes, Google is stepping up its competition with Amazon’s Alexa, which has also been updated with AI, and Apple’s Siri, expected to get a major AI upgrade next year.
Gemini Home will also be provided on already available Google speakers and displays with both free and paid versions.
