Google is rolling out a very large update for Google Home and Gemini for Home. There are quite a few new features listed, but also, there are a lot of speed improvements detailed, which has us a bit more excited. Since launch, Gemini for Home has been a lot better of an experience.
As for new features, Gemini for Home will provide visual answers when relevant to your questions. Additionally, Google says faster Broadcasts are now available via Gemini.
If your Google-powered smart home device features a camera, there are eight bullet points you’ll want to see below. Again, it’s a big update.
Read the whole thing below.
Gemini for Home (Early Access)
Voice Assistant
- More reliable smart home controls: Gemini is better at handling complex smart home requests, so it is less likely to say it can’t help and will ask a quick clarifying question (like “which bedroom?”) instead of guessing when multiple devices match.
- Visual answers with images on smart displays: On-screen answers on smart displays now will include relevant images when helpful so you can take in information at a glance.
- Faster timers, alarms, and media sleep timers: Gemini now responds faster when you set, check, or cancel timers, alarms, and media sleep timers. Fixed some rare cases where Gemini would fail to actually set the sleep timer.
- More conversational voice feedback: When you share feedback by voice, Gemini now makes it easier to add more detail or change your message before sending it.
- Faster Broadcasts across your home: Broadcast messages now start playing more quickly across your home’s speakers and displays.
Google Home App
Google Home Premium
- Easier access to your subscription: It’s now easier to access and manage your Home Premium subscription. Just tap on the Google Home App’s profile menu, then tap ‘Google Home Premium’ to manage your subscription and premium features.
Energy
- Eco Mode Everywhere: If you have multiple Nest thermostats, you can now enable Eco mode across every device in your home with a single press, helping you maximize energy savings instantly.
Safety & Security
- Add home keys to Google Wallet (Public Preview): Rolling out to Public Preview, users can now tap to unlock or unlock hands-free on approach by adding a digital home key to Google Wallet on supported Android devices for Aliro-compliant smart locks.
Camera
- More reliable camera history player controls (Android): Fixed issues in camera event history where the previous and next event buttons or player controls could be missing or unresponsive on still-image events, timeline gaps, or playback error screens, or get stuck loading when rotating your phone.
- Fewer unnecessary Nest account linking prompts (Android): Fixed an issue where already-linked users could be prompted with “Do you have a Nest account?” during brief network interruptions.
- Clearer account relinking for partner cameras (Android): Fixed an issue where third-party cameras with an expired partner account link appeared offline instead of showing the option to relink your account.
- Offline legacy Nest Doorbell removal (Android): Restored the option in device settings to remove an offline unmigrated Nest Doorbell (wired, 1st gen).
- Software updates for Nest Cam Indoor (1st gen), Nest Cam Outdoor (1st gen), Nest Doorbell (wired, 1st gen / Nest Hello), Nest Cam IQ Indoor, and Nest Cam IQ Outdoor migrated to the Google Home app:
- Fixed live streaming connection issues on certain network connections: Resolved an issue where live streaming could fail to connect over certain internet connections (such as PPPoE, fiber, or mobile hotspots) while event history continued recording normally, and improved live stream responsiveness and smoothness.
- Restored event thumbnails on Nest Cam IQ: Fixed an issue on Nest Cam IQ Indoor and Nest Cam IQ Outdoor where event previews in the Google Home app could appear blank.
- Improved playback timestamps and camera reliability: Improved camera clock accuracy for reliable event history timestamps, updated security certificates, and fixed stability issues to reduce unexpected camera restarts.
Home MCP
Google Home MCP (early access)
- Create and manage household Automations: Your personal agent can now view, create, and update automations for your home, on top of checking device status, browsing history, and controlling devices. Agents can work with automations created in the Google Home app or through Google Home MCP, while sensitive security actions stay blocked for safety. Agents can’t permanently delete routines yet, so you can ask your agent to turn off an automation instead or delete it directly in the Google Home app.
- Expanded smart device support: We now support additional device capabilities including status checks and control across thermostats, fans, air purifiers, robot vacuums, lighting effects, kitchen appliances, EV chargers, and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
