"Google is revamping its Home ecosystem. The update brings a new 'Ask Home' chat feature, updated smart devices, and a Google Home Premium plan."
Gemini for Home: A Smarter Assistant in Your House
Google is rolling out a major smart home overhaul powered by its new Gemini AI assistant. This update will replace the old Google Assistant on all Home speakers and displays . Starting in October, you can simply "Ask Home" in natural language and Gemini will handle the rest. For example, instead of memorizing rigid commands, you might type or say "Set mood lighting and play jazz by Norah Jones," and the assistant will get it done . Google even promises conversational "Gemini Live" sessions for things like cooking or troubleshooting, making it feel like talking to an expert rather than a machine .
Fresh Home App & UX
The Google Home app is getting a big redesign, too. The old "Favorites" tab is gone – everything is now under a single "Home" tab for simplicity . You still tap a grid icon for "All Devices," but managing devices and settings is more streamlined . At the top of the app is a new "Ask Home" search bar: it looks like a chatbot field where you type or speak your command . For instance, you might ask "Show me the front door camera from yesterday" or "Create a movie-night scene," and the assistant will handle those requests in order .
Upgraded Automation
Automation in the Home app is also much smarter. The new editor supports multiple conditions and even one-time routines . That means you can set up complex triggers. For example, you could create an automation that locks your door if a Nest camera detects an unknown face and nobody is home, adding extra security . You can also run a routine just once (instead of it repeating forever), which helps avoid unwanted loops. These flexible automations fix many old limitations of the Home app.
New Devices: Google Home Speaker and Nest Cams
On the hardware side, Google is refreshing its lineup. Notably, the company is phasing out the "Nest" name for smart speakers – the new device will be called the Google Home Speaker . This speaker is rumored to have 360° audio for rich sound and built-in Gemini AI for advanced voice control . The Nest-branded cameras are also getting upgrades: we expect new Nest Cam Indoor (3rd gen), Nest Cam Outdoor (3rd gen), and a 2025 Nest Doorbell. Each of these will record 2K HDR video (up from 1080p) and will be tightly integrated with Gemini for features like smart alerts and video summaries .
| Device | Key Upgrades (2025 model) |
|---|---|
| Google Home Speaker | 360° audio, built-in Gemini AI assistant, sound sensing |
| Nest Cam Indoor (3rd gen) | 2K HDR video, Gemini video alerts, 3-hour event preview |
| Nest Cam Outdoor (3rd gen) | 2K HDR video, 3-hour event preview, 1-hour local storage |
| Nest Doorbell (2025) | 2K HDR video, Gemini facial recognition & alerts |
Introducing Google Home Premium
Tying it all together is a new subscription plan: Google Home Premium. This replaces the old Nest Aware plans for camera services . Home Premium will give you unlimited event video recording and smarter alerts, plus new AI perks. For example, subscribers will get daily camera footage summaries generated by Gemini, and they can search their video history in plain English (e.g. "Show me when the dog entered the kitchen") . There’s also talk of a higher-tier Google Home Premium Advanced plan – essentially a rebrand of Nest Aware Plus with even more cloud storage and AI features .
What This Means for You
For everyday users, these changes should make the Google Home ecosystem feel more powerful and intuitive. Gemini for Home can handle more complex requests and remembers context better than before, so controlling lights, music, cameras and more should feel like a natural conversation. The unified app layout and new devices also put Google on stronger footing against competitors like Alexa and HomeKit. Of course, many of the coolest features require that Premium subscription, so your mileage may vary. That said, Google has confirmed an Oct 1 announcement, so the rollout should begin shortly after .
FAQs
Q: What is Gemini for Home? A: It’s the new AI assistant powering Google Home devices, designed to replace the traditional Google Assistant. Gemini for Home understands natural language better and can handle complex, multi-step tasks . You interact with it via the new "Ask Home" bar in the Google Home app or by saying "Hey Google" as usual.
Q: What new devices are coming? A: Google is set to launch a new Google Home Speaker (dropping the "Nest" name) and upgraded Nest camera products. The speaker features 360° audio and Gemini AI inside . The cameras (indoor, outdoor, doorbell) get 2K video and Gemini-powered features like facial recognition and daily video summaries .
Q: How is Google Home Premium different from Nest Aware? A: Home Premium is essentially Nest Aware rebranded and upgraded. It continues to cover 24/7 video recording and cloud storage, but adds AI features like video summary text, natural language search, and Gemini Live support . The Premium Advanced plan replaces the old Nest Aware Plus tier.
