A day after Amazon introduced new AI-powered echo devices, Google debuted its refresh lineup of Google Home and Nest Devices, designed to showcase AI assistant Gemini AI. The company has also removed the Revamped Google Home software platform and its new business strategy for the AI era.
The company will still compete in hardware, but it hopes to make Gemini accessible to other manufacturers and companies. This is similar to how Google offers its own flagship Android devices with its Pixel line, but allows other companies that create products compatible with Google’s platform to build their own Android smartphones with a variety of form factors and prices.
Anish Kattukaran, chief product officer of Google Home and Nest, said at a press conference ahead of Wednesday’s announcement, “We’ll be building flagship hardware in certain categories that we believe showcase innovation and push the boundaries of what’s possible in Gemini. “And we don’t think the second part – Gemini should be constrained by one device from one OEM.
To show what that means, Google has announced an overhaul lineup of nested devices such as Nest Cam Cam, Nest Cam Indoors, Nest Doorbell, and more that utilize Gemini. Additionally, an upgraded version of Google Home Speaker scheduled for spring 2026, along with a partnership with Walmart, has been sold at a lower cost camera and doorbell.
However, the company decided to first bring Gemini to the owner of existing devices if there is certain hardware features, such as ample processing power. (See the list below.)
This approach is intentional. Google doesn’t want to ask people to buy new devices to access AI power if they already have over 800 million devices in their ecosystem. These devices are connected via the company’s Google Home Cloud-to-Cloud API and Smart Home Standard Matter, an industry protocol that allows devices from various manufacturers to collaborate.
Additionally, the company will need time to test the features and performance of its existing customers and Gemini before launching them on new flagship devices, such as the upgraded Google Home smart speakers scheduled for next year.
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Meanwhile, Google offers its “Google Home” and “Works” partners, including toolkits for building AI cameras, new reference hardware designs, system-on-chip (SOCS, the main processor that powers smart devices), and recommendations regarding the embedding of the SDK by the new Google camera.
Walmart is Google’s first partner and launches affordable indoor cameras and doorbells under the retailer’s ONN brand.
Tell your house
With Gemini, the idea is to provide an AI-powered device that allows you to talk in a more natural way, whether you interrupt or add details after the initial inquiry or ask more complicated questions.
For example, if you said, “play that song from that movie with Ben Affleck, who is on the rocket and sets off to like an asteroid or something,” the device could play the airroom song in the film “Armageddon.” Once the music is streamed, you can ask what the lyrics mean, and once it’s over, you can ask for other songs with similar themes.
You can also ask for a podcast featuring a particular person without remembering the name of the show or episode. Alternatively, you could ask Gemini to create an interactive bedtime story for the kids who will help create characters.
When it comes to home adjustments, Gemini can handle calendars, lists, timers, reminders and other things that make life easier in the home.
For example, instead of telling the smart speaker to add individual recipe ingredients to your shopping list, you could say you want to make a “vegetarian pad thai”, and Gemini might respond by saying “for how many people” or something. If your shopping list is not started, create a shopping list with the right amount of ingredients.
Another example is that instead of asking your smart device to set a timer for a specific period, you can say, “I’m boiling an egg. Can I set a timer?” Gemini may ask if a hard boil or a soft boil is required, then set a timer based on the response.
Additionally, users don’t need to remember the names of the various smart home devices anymore. This means you can sit in your bedroom and tell Gemini to “try to cook” and “turn on the lights.”
You can also chain commands, such as by asking the device to turn off the light, adjust the thermostat, or start Roomba. Alternatively, you can ask for exceptions such as “I turn off all lights, but leave the office lights on.”
For cameras and doorbells, Gemini can better understand what it is seeing, so instead of dozens of notifications, you can get a summary of actually important events and highlights of events.
Gemini also helps you to take advantage of more complex features, such as preset routines that automatically control multiple devices, or to ask questions to help you better understand your energy usage.
Also, instead of manually configuring automation, you can ask Gemini about the new “home” feature, ask what you want to do, and get useful suggestions and support. For example, you could ask how you can feel safer at home. It may also suggest a home automation setup when you’re at home, or something that simulates your presence when you’re out of town. If they were what you wanted, Gemini can set it up.
All this is controlled via a redesigned version of the Google Home app. It’s faster, more stable and comes with Gemini AI.
In the app, Gemini provides descriptions of events and activities discovered by the camera, summarises the activities of the day, and directs them to the clip when asking. (Some features require a Google Home Premium subscription. See the chart below for more information.)
In addition to AI-powered features, you can also chat with Gemini Live by saying “Hey, Google, let’s chat” to your smart device. This launches a before and after conversation where you don’t have to say “Hey, Google” over and over again and foreword to the request.
This allows for a more natural chat. Here you can ask complex questions, brainstorm your AI partner, or come up with creative ideas for your AI.
For now, Gemini Live is a device-provided mode, but Kattukaran believes this conversation approach will be “all experiences” in the future.
“I’m very bullish about this experience becoming a de facto,” he says.
“With a more conversational assistant, having a Gemini Live, access to endless information and creativity, “ask home” – this foundation we’re setting between being converging together,” says Kathukaran. “We are beginning to keep our home promises that we can actually see, hear, understand and ultimately act on your behalf.
Google Home app updates are being deployed in today’s Early Access. While Nest and Walmart devices are now becoming available, Google’s new home speakers will be released in spring 2026. Manufacturer specifications are available from the Google Home developer site.
