Google is beginning to roll out the Gemini for Home voice assistant in the US for devices set to English on all Nest speakers and displays from the past decade. Make sure you’re enrolled in the Early Access program.
Commands and capabilities
Gemini allows for an expanded range of voice commands, like how you can “search for a song without knowing the title or the artist.”
- “Play that song that goes [lyrics]”
- “Play the song from [movie] where [scene in the movie]”
- “What are some popular country songs of this summer? Can you play the second one?”
- “Play the album of the year from the [award show]”
- “What are other songs like this?”
- “Play a podcast episode about [topic]”
- “I want to learn more about [topic], can you suggest a few podcasts on this topic? Hey Google, play the first one”
In terms of smart home control, Gemini is better at handling complex requests with multiple parts, as well as exceptions.
- “Hey Google, turn off all the lights, except for the office lights”
- “Hey Google, I’m about to cook, can you turn on the lights by the stove”
If you have Google Home Premium Advanced, you can search camera history and ask about what’s happening in your home thanks to AI event descriptions:
- “Were any packages delivered?”
- “What happened in my home today?”
- “Garage door opening.”
On the household coordination front, Gemini can understand and interpret the intent behind calendar, list, timer, and reminder requests. It can ask clarifying questions as needed.
- “Add a dentist appointment to my calendar for next Monday at 2 PM”
- “Remind me to make a reservation one month before Mother’s Day”
- “Set a 20-minute timer called “Rice” and a 25-minute timer called “Chicken”
- “Hey Google, when is the ‘
’s next game?” And, to be sure you don’t miss it, follow up with “Hey Google, put it on my calendar.” - “What can I cook with just bread, tomatoes, and cheese?”
- “Hey Google, add ingredients for Pad Thai to my shopping list”
Like on phones, Gemini can explain complex concepts, brainstorm ideas, and more across the time, weather, and local information.
Gemini Live is a separate mode where the hotword is no longer required after “Hey Google, let’s chat.” You can interrupt Google’s responses and follow-up questions. “OK, I’m done” will end the session.
Google has a list of 100 example commands here.
Limitations
Compared to Google Assistant and its pre-set commands, Gemini can “understand more ambiguous, natural language.” During the preview period, Google does note some limitations:
Gemini is “non-deterministic,” which is a technical way of saying it doesn’t just follow a script. It uses enhanced reasoning and inference. This unlocks incredible new capabilities, but there are a few challenges that we’re working through in early access as we integrate Gemini models into the home.
While many media, smart home, calendar, and reminder actions now support natural language queries, Google is “still in the process of upgrading all of our actions to take full advantage.”
We are working to enable you to combine multiple different actions of different types into a single command, like “create a calendar event, turn on the kitchen lights, and play relaxing music.” This is currently enabled for certain smart home devices, so you can say, “turn on the TV, dim the lights and set the temp to 72 degrees.”
Complex command support is available for lights, cameras, and thermostats, with more coming.
Gemini has short-term memory for contextual conversations, but that “context isn’t infinite.”
…so if you come back to a conversation after a while, the context will be reset. Additionally, if during a session you switch topics, the context from the previous topic can carry over and influence responses.
Google also points out how, like on phones, “you might ask the same question twice and get two different (but still helpful) answers.” Additionally:
Inaccuracies (or “hallucinations”): Sometimes, especially for very recent, real-time info, the answer might be out of date or wrong. We’re currently working on this, so it’s safest to check factual responses before relying on them.
Meanwhile, Google warns that Gemini Live might pick up on background noise (TV, other conversations in the room, etc.) and that it’s tuning the audio models to “get better at distinguishing between you, Gemini’s response, and background noise.”
You can leave feedback with “Hey Google, send feedback.” Once you’re using the Gemini for Home voice assistant, you “can’t switch back to Google Assistant.”
Requirements + How to enroll
The full experience with Gemini Live, which requires the Google Home Premium subscription, is available on the:
- Google Nest Mini (2nd gen)
- Google Nest Audio
- Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)
- Google Nest Hub Max
The following devices will just get Gemini for Home, which replaces Google Assistant outright, and is free:
- Google Home
- Google Home Mini (1st gen)
- Google Home Max
- Google Nest Hub (1st gen)
- Google Nest Wifi point
The experience starts with 10 more natural voices, with the UI now featuring blue/purple lights (on newer devices) and an updated voice UI after saying “Hey Google” on Nest Hubs.
To sign-up for Google Home Early Access:
- Open the Google Home app (version 4.1+): Android and iOS
- Tap your Profile picture or Initial, in the older design click on the Settings tab
- Then click on Early Access (near the bottom)
The Gemini for Home assistant will expand beyond US English in early 2026.
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