Google is replacing its long-standing Assistant with a new AI system named Gemini across smart home devices, and the company says the next generation of its Nest Hub will be fully powered by this shift. The move signals an acceleration of AI integration in consumer hardware, transforming how people interact with their homes.

Under the rebranded“Gemini for Home” strategy, Gemini becomes the default intelligence for smart speakers, displays, cameras and doorbells, bringing more conversational capabilities and contextual understanding to everyday home management. Google says the rollout will begin via“early access” updates to existing devices and continue with new hardware tuned for Gemini's multimodal design.

Google has already launched new devices built for Gemini. These include Nest Cam Indoor, Nest Cam Outdoor and a new Nest Doorbell, each offering 2K HDR video resolution and wider fields of view to give the AI richer visual inputs. A newly announced Google Home Speaker, announced as explicitly designed for Gemini, offers 360° audio and visual feedback via a light ring. These devices are intended to showcase Gemini's potential, rather than merely retrofitting older models.

Anish Kattukaran, Chief Product Officer at Google Home & Nest, has emphasised that smart displays-with a microphone, speaker and screen-are an“ideal form factor” for merging voice and visual modalities in Gemini. He has affirmed that Google remains“definitely committed” to the category, hinting at a forthcoming refresh of the Nest Hub line that embodies Gemini's full capabilities.

The new assistant architecture introduces“Gemini Live,” a feature enabling two-way, free-flowing conversations without needing to repeat wake words. However, Gemini Live is limited to devices with enhanced microphone arrays and background filtering-so only a subset of hardware will support it at launch. More advanced features-such as summarised video histories, AI-driven notifications, and conversational automation-are being bundled into a subscription plan under a new“Google Home Premium” tier, replacing the existing Nest Aware offering.

Google's revamped Home app also plays a central role. The app is being redesigned to foreground an“Ask Home” interface, enabling users to query their smart home system conversationally-e. g.“What package arrived while I was out?” or“Did anyone come into the backyard last night?” The app aggregates device data, timeline summaries and automation suggestions into a unified experience.

The shift is not without friction. For months, users have reported instability and dropped features during the transition from Assistant to Gemini. Google publicly acknowledged those concerns, with Kattukaran issuing an apology and promising more robust updates through late 2025. Some critics argue that solarizing older devices with new AI functionality may leave consumers dependent on subscription tiers for full access to features they once took for granted.

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