Google is giving its smart home ecosystem a major upgrade under the umbrella name Gemini for Home. This initiative brings together a redesigned app, new AI-powered camera features, and a voice assistant that will eventually replace Google Assistant. Here’s a breakdown of what’s coming and when you can expect it about Google Gemini for Home.
Rolling Out Now (October 1, 2025+)
Redesigned version of Google Home App
The new Google Home app (version 4.0) is rolling out globally on Android and iOS devices. The app introduces a fresh design with three tabs at the bottom, along with a new home screen icon. Since this is a server-side update, users don’t need to manually download anything.
Ask Home Search & Chat
Google is debuting Ask Home, a built-in chat/search experience that allows users to manage devices more naturally. It’s now available in:
- United States (English)
- Canada (English, French)
- United Kingdom (English)
- Ireland (English)
- Australia (English)
- New Zealand (English)
Features for all (free) users include:
- Quick Search: Instantly find devices and automations as you type.
- Simple Queries: Ask, “Which lights are on?” or “Is the front door locked?”
- Real-Time Control: Commands like “Close all blinds” are executed instantly.
Premium Features
Google is introducing subscription tiers for advanced functionality:
Google Gemini Home Premium Standard
- Natural-language automation creation
- Recurring automations (e.g., “Turn off all lights when we leave home”)
- One-time automations (e.g., “At 7 PM, warm the living room and play music”)
- Saved household info for personalised experiences
Google Home Premium Advanced
- AI descriptions & notifications: Cameras now provide detailed event captions (e.g., instead of “animal detected,” you’ll see “the dog is digging in the garden”).
- Video history search: Ask questions like “Did the dog go outside today?”
- Home Brief: An evening digest summarising key household events
These AI-powered camera features are rolling out via software update for the new Nest Cam Outdoor (2nd gen), Nest Cam Indoor (3rd gen), and Nest Doorbell (3rd gen) in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
Later in October 2025: Gemini Voice Assistant
The Gemini voice assistant will begin replacing Google Assistant for users who join the Early Access program.
To sign up:
- Open the Google Home app.
- Tap your profile picture (top-right).
- Go to Home settings > Early Access.
Supported devices:
- Google Home, Home Mini (1st gen), Home Max
- Nest Hub (1st gen), Nest Wifi point
- Nest Mini (2nd gen), Nest Hub Max, Nest Audio, Nest Hub (2nd gen)
Note: Only the four latest models will support Gemini Live, which requires Premium Standard.
Early 2026 Expansion
Gemini for Home camera features will expand to additional regions where Nest devices are sold, including
- Austria,
- Belgium
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Japan
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland.
Spring 2026: Google Home Speaker
Google has confirmed the launch of a new Google Home Speaker in most countries by spring 2026. In Australia, the Google Store specifically mentions March 2026 as the release window.
The Big Picture
With Gemini for Home, AI is the future, which is why Google is positioning its ecosystem for the AI-driven future of smart living. By combining powerful automation, smarter camera insights, and a more conversational assistant, the company aims to make controlling connected devices feel seamless and personalised.
