Gemini Integration Across Google Home and the Core App
Google announced a sweeping move to weave its Gemini artificial intelligence into every corner of the smart home. The Gemini-infused experience will span Google Home devices and the company’s main mobile app, and it will be complemented by a new Google Home Speaker scheduled to arrive in spring 2026 for $100. The plan aims to deliver a faster, more capable smart-home experience by bringing advanced AI into everyday routines, calendar management, and device control.
The revamped Google Home App is described as a ground-up rebuild designed to support all devices the company has released since 2015, including thermostats, cameras, and smart locks. The interface is organized into three primary areas: Home for centralized device management, Activity for a complete history of home events, and Automations for quick setup of more complex routines. Google says the app loads up to 70% faster on selected Android devices and uses less battery and memory, a welcome improvement for users juggling multiple smart-home gadgets.
Ask Home and Smarter Notifications
Among the notable features is Ask Home, a conversational interface that lets users control devices, search camera clips, and perform multi-step actions with a single voice command. Notifications have also become smarter, offering detailed descriptions such as “delivery driver with flowers” rather than a generic alert. This level of context is designed to help users act quickly and accurately in real time, enhancing situational awareness inside the home.
Google Home Speaker: Design, Sound, and Privacy
Google introduces the Google Home Speaker, a round, flat device wrapped in woven fabric with a bottom LED glow. It supports 360-degree audio and can be paired in stereo for richer sound, with optional integration to Google TV for TV audio enhancements. A physical mic-mute switch gives users an immediate privacy control, a feature increasingly important as voice assistants handle more sensitive information. The hardware is designed to work seamlessly with Gemini to enable continuous conversations for calendar management, device control, and daily planning.
Google Home Premium: A Paid Tier for Advanced Gemini Features
Alongside hardware and software upgrades, Google is introducing Google Home Premium, a subscription that unlocks the advanced capabilities of Gemini. The plan includes continuous conversations with Gemini Live, daily summaries (Home Brief), and smart alerts with more capable recognition. Access to these features, however, is gated behind a monthly fee: $10 per month, or $20 per month for the advanced track. While existing Google AI Pro or Ultra subscribers will receive the service as part of their plan, the majority of users will face an extra recurring cost to leverage the full Gemini-powered home experience.
The pricing approach has drawn criticism from some users who appreciate the speed, reliability, and enhanced automation but worry about recurring costs and the idea that core features become paywalled. Supporters, however, argue that the paid tier enables perpetual updates, more robust privacy controls, and deeper AI-assisted automation that would be harder to sustain otherwise.
Rollout Plan: From Old Devices to a New Era of Control
Google says Gemini will be phased into all smart-home devices the company has released over the past decade, ensuring that new capabilities reach existing models before the new Google Home Speaker ships. This strategy promises a unified, AI-forward experience across a broad device lineup, lowering friction for households adopting multiple Google-made devices. The Google Home Speaker itself is slated to ship in spring 2026, priced at $100, with a design that prioritizes both aesthetics and practicality in everyday living spaces.
What This Means for the Smart Home User
For users, the combination of a refreshed app, a capable new speaker, and a paid premium tier represents a significant shift in how Google monetizes and distributes advanced AI features. It offers faster access to automation, richer alerting, and more natural device management, while also introducing a recurring cost that could influence adoption decisions. In the broader context of the smart home, the Gemini push positions Google to compete more aggressively with other AI-enabled ecosystems by offering more cohesive control and smarter, more proactive devices.
