A new chapter for Google Home & Nest

[AnishKattukaran]

Hey folks,

Anish here, I lead the product teams for Google Home & Nest.

I want to start by saying thank you for being on this journey with us, especially as we kick off a new era for the smart home! We have our biggest update in years and I wanted to share it with you directly.

Today marks the start of a new chapter for us. Today, we talked about Gemini for Home, Google Home Premium, two new Cameras, a new doorbell, a reimagined Google Home app, and a first look at our new upcoming speaker and new partner devices. The blog posts have all of the details:

• Welcome to the next era of Google Home

• Gemini for Home: The helpful home gets an AI upgrade. A new AI, Gemini for Home, which replaces the Google Assistant and is far more capable

• A new Google Home app, redesigned for Gemini. Now faster, more reliable, and complete with all of your older Nest devices. It's been redesigned to be simpler and more fluid, and we've infused it with the power of Gemini.

• Our newest Google Home devices are built for Gemini.

• We’re introducing the new Google Home Premium subscription plus new benefits for AI Pro and Ultra su...

As we begin this next era of Google Home, we know that building a truly helpful home is a long-term commitment. That’s why we’re bringing Gemini for Home to every speaker, smart display, camera and doorbell we’ve made in the last decade, along with the new Google Home app. It will be available via an early access program because we want you to try all of these new features and continue giving us feedback as we work to perfect the experience. The early access rollout for these devices will begin this month (with speakers and smart displays starting towards the end of the month).

We know our journey with you hasn't always been smooth, and frankly, we haven't always gotten it right. We are committed to earning back your trust, and improving the products with you.

-Anish

P.S. For more updates you can follow me on https://x.com/AnishKattukaran or Threads https://www.threads.com/@anishk

[Jenna1276]

Upgraded to the Gemini assistant. Since the upgrade, some of our smart switches we control with our Google home now just randomly come on?? There are no routines set in our Google home & no automation set on these devices. Is there a rollout to fix this?!? More annoying than anything. Any help would be appreciated. 

[Bradybunch]

I sincerely wish I could get my Google Home Assistant back. This has been the biggest mistake I've made in a long time by switching over to the Google Home Assistant because I'm not paying for the upgrade and it's not responding properly. It's making mistakes about the date. It's canceling my timers when I ask anything about the timer. It's just terrible absolutely terrible. I made a big mistake and now I can't go back and I'm wondering what to do. I have three Google Home Minis in my house, one in each room, and I regret it no. I am annoyed on a daily basis when it gives me the wrong date and I'm trying to take my medicine and then I recheck and it corrects it but later it gives me the wrong date again. It's just terrible. I've totally lost my competence in Google. I will find a way to get my continued conversation and my Google Home Assistant through Siri or something and get rid of this trash Google Home Helper. I'm at my wit's end with this thing. 

[Matt202]

I posted a way to restore the Assistant. Just search the board for restoring Google Assistant after Gemini. I'm pretty sure that is the title I gave it

[yyCK]

Seems like there's a major miss with this "upgrade" for kids under 13 who are part of Family subscriptions, as Google has created a logical conundrum for itself. On a more general note, this marks a fundamental shift to a Personal Assistant (Gemini) vs. Home Assistant (Google Assistant) model:

• Google Assistant: Successfully recognized children under 13 via Voice Match, allowing them to access ad-free music and personalized results within a Family Plan. 

• Gemini: Officially disables Voice Match for minors . This creates a technical deadlock: because the system cannot "prove" a child's identity, it defaults them to a "Guest" profile - triggering ads on shared speakers even in homes with active $22.99/month Premium subscriptions.

Communal Hardware but Private Software
We are witnessing a fundamental pivot from Shared Household Utility to a Private Assistant philosophy. Google is now treating (possibly permanent, wall-mounted) household fixtures as if they were private, gated smartphones rather than communal household tools. By prioritizing "Personal Identity" over the "Household Identity", the Gemini update sacrifices the domestic utility of the hardware. The system now views an unrecognized voice as a security risk or a data-privacy liability rather than a guest to be served. Previously, Nest speakers (in my experience) employed a "Default" logic where unrecognized voices would inherit the premium benefits of the primary manager's account. So for many (if not most) households, this represents a significant functional regression: we are essentially paying for a "Private Agent" that is physically trapped in a "Shared Room", refusing to serve the very family members (and their guests) standing in front of it who pay to use its services. Worst butler ever. 

Documentation Conundrum
There is a glaring logical loop in official guidance:

• Nest Help maintains that children can use Assistant on shared devices.
• Meanwhile, Gemini Help confirms that Voice Match (the only way to access premium content) is disabled for those same children. This creates a functional deadlock where the only way to restore "family" features is to avoid the Gemini upgrade - yet Google is systematically sunsetting the Assistant infrastructure that actually worked for families.

Maybe we can use Captain Kirk's logic trick to overcome the Gemini Assistant? 🙃

Potential Legal Exposure?
I wonder if anyone at Google considered what this change actually meant in the larger context beyond the micro-optimization of "swap this Assistant for an AI-powered Assistant"? And if they consulted the legal team if they did? Because this seems like it leaves Google wide open to significant legal scrutiny, potentially under Consumer Protection and Breach of Contract statutes?

• Breach of Subscription Contract: Families pay for "Family Plans" that the hardware’s software now actively prevents them from using on the very devices marketed for that purpose.

• Deceptive Trade Practices: Many (most?) users purchased hardware based on the promise of a shared household utility. Turning these into "private agents" that only work for a voice-authenticated person represents a significant "feature removal" that fundamentally diminishes the utility of the product.

• False Advertising: Selling a device as a "Household Assistant" and then transitioning it to a "Personal Assistant" model misled consumers regarding the long-term functionality of their purchase.

Note: U.S. users wishing to preserve their right to join potential class actions regarding these feature removals can (maybe?) opt out of Google’s binding arbitration (there are time limits, e.g. within 30 days of device activation, etc.):  https://partnerdash.google.com/apps/devicearbitrationoptout/optoutform

Final Thoughts
If the above issues with children under 13 and guests is just a temporary situation, then it would be essential to know that. Otherwise, for my situation (and likely for many others, based on comments here) the direction Google is taking this product and its services neither matches my needs which I bought it for nor does it match how it was advertised to work. An update on future plans for how (if at all) these new shortcomings will be addressed would be invaluable.

[Matt202]

With the millions of dollars Google pays their attorneys, I would hope they would have thought this, and other similar situations to this, through.

 My guess is that they did the math and decided that the cost to fight the battle, including any potential financial damages and future exposure after the fact would be less than the money they brought in so far and will continue to make in the future. I honestly can't see any business not having their million dollar legal teams pick through every aspect of this transition to find a loophole or to determine the level of damages those decisions will expose them to. Look at what they did with the Sonos copyright infringement case. They raked in probably a few hundred million dollars and only paid Sonos 32.5 million in damages. There was an estimated 14,146,000 devices at the time that used Sonos software. That means Google only had to pay $2.30/device for stealing their software. That's pennies on the dollar compared to the revenue they brought in with those devices. 

Fingers crossed Google has plans to fix this mess they created with Gemini but if they don't, I'll be looking forward to the class action suit and the ultimate payout that follows

[Blordo]

I have received google Gemini as part of the early access .  I really like it but there are definitely bugs.  It often gives me weather for the wrong city and this happens on Gemini on my phone too before I had the early access on my Google Home setup.  I would have thought this would be an easy fix for Google but it is still happening.  There also seems to be some lag turning on my smart lights frequently.  Another thing I would like to see is some other voices.  All the voices Gemini has to offer (in Canada) are young people voices.  I would like to hear some older more mature, deeper voices so I don't feel like I'm talking to a teenager.  I also don't think Gemini Live should be behind a pay wall as I don't think people are going to pay for that.  I really like it but not sure it's worth the money.  I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with Gemini as we move forward.  

[GeminiSucks9999]

Too bad most of that doesn't actually work 

[Jive71]

I have gone through the Gemini for home update in the Google Home app, but all of my devices are still using the Google assistant instead of Gemini.  What am I doing wrong?

[nopking]

If you have multiple homes listed in the app it's per home. My home got it and then my work home (I have 2 devices there, it shows as a second home) got it and I was prompted to pay for a different location recently.

[Eraaa]

1. Please don't force Gemini or any other AI on all users later on. I bought my Google Hub and Minis specifically to use with Google Assistant, NOT Gemini.

2. I'm really frustrated that some of GA's settings have been removed in this update, specifically the option to keep Google's responses brief. I'd love for Google not even to respond at all when it's turned on lights or stopped playing music, etc. This is one area Alexa has Google beat, by a longshot.

Alexa also responds to questions asked in a whisper, with her own whisper. I know I can create an automation to lower the volume between certain hours, but the whisper function is great at any hour for parents with napping kids, a partner who is sleeping in, etc

I don't need my GA to be my talkative best friend. I just need it to do its job quietly and accurately, please!

[SmartHomeH-TAGS]

@Eraaa There is a solution to muting ALL or some responses from Google on their Mini speakers...

https://youtube.com/shorts/_ALK3kFoyXQ?feature=share

Note: I haven't been able to test this on Gemini enabled Home speakers. Only Google Assistant. Alexa cannot achieve total silence like this.

[gabrielwistisen]

Is there any timeline on when we will have the dual-language support back? We use google home instead of the other smart speakers because we are a bilingual family and it worked the best for us. Now we can only speak to it in English and it is frustrating.

I feel like the speakers were supposed to get smarter with AI, but now struggle more for the simple tasks. Even like playing music has become difficult. 

[Guoyan]

Hi Anish, if an automotive OEM wants to partner with Google Home, how should we contact Google? Is there any contact information? Thanks!

Guoyan

[uh60doc69]

This thing is HORRIBLE. I own 9 Google Home Devices and am just about ready to unplut them all. I Come home and its running a good night program that takes voice activation, it doesnt really answer any questions except weather, This was rolled out WAY to early and not I cant get rid of it.  Very Disappointed

[emmaipod]

Hello Anish, I've been signed up since the day of Early Release Sign Up here in the UK was available. I've received nothing; no notification, no updates. All my settings are correct; signed up to Public Preview in the app + Early Release for Gemini Home, "add me to Groups" checked in Google Groups, I've tried the switch to US trick, but nothing has worked. I would be an idea candidate to test this out and provide feedback and I really would like to take part in this. Other people in this thread have said about bugs or concerns with the early release but I can't say if I'll get this as so far I've not been invited to the party! Please can you provide me with an update? It's been 5 months now with nothing. 

[Matt202]

Remove yourself from the "early release" Gemini program!  Read some of the posts about Gemini before even considering it. Gemini in every place/country that it has been released to is a MESS and will drive you crazy.  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE resist the temptation to transition over to Gemini. They tell you that you can go back to the Google Assistant but you can't, well you can but it is not at all easy to do.  Again, read the reviews/headaches/annoyances/anger/etc following the Gemini rollout. 

[SmartHomeH-TAGS]

@Matt202 I very much like the Early Access version of the Google Home app, but until it's absolutely necessary I won't be accepting Google's invitation to change my smart speakers to Gemini.

As far as I'm aware you have to opt-in to Gemini for Home from Early Access.

[emmaipod]

Bugs and poor functionality do seem to be reported frequently, yes, but to be honest I don't mind. Experiencing them and providing feedback to the Engineering team can actually help with the overall outcome as I can test them; I work in IT for a living so I am already well-versed in this kind of process. I thought that was the purpose of Early Access Programs?! 

In any case, after speaking with Google Tier 3 Support, I have been explicitly told that Gemini Early Access is exclusively available in the US only and no where else. There is no publicised or exact date for when the Early Access will be opened up to other regions, nor could the Support team member(s) tell me why. I am annoyed about this because I don't think anywhere else should have been given the option to sign up unless we were actually going to be able to take part. It's very misleading! I'm also frustrated because in the last 2 months it seems all official support articles have since been updated to be more explicit in their region roll-out location distinguishing. When I signed up they all stated US & UK (and a few other countries in Europe) would be both getting it "Early 2026"... Just odd and disappointing, considering Anish's post above!! 

[SmartHomeH-TAGS]

@emmaipod were you talking about the Early Access app or Gemini on Home speakers.

 I live in Australia and have got Early Access on the Google Home app, but not with home speakers.

I think US customers are like every new software release are guinea pigs and being tested upon before the rest of the world gets a more reliable version of Gemini for the Home.

Gemini on phones was supposed to end at the end of March 2026, but I've received no notification that this is definitely happening.

[emmaipod]

Sorry, yeah; I'm talking about Gemini Home Assistant specifically on Speakers; Gemini already works on the Home app on my phone. Which is another point worth mentioning, yes!! Why release it partly and not fully?! Nothing is consistent and feels a bit rubbish.

[SmartHomeH-TAGS]

I don't know about US residents, but I wasn't forced to get the Early Access version of Google Home.

But even though I took a chance with Early Access I can (and probably you too) still have access to the previous version of Automation editing (Personal and Household).

[emmaipod]

I haven't got Early Access yet; that's the problem! I want it but I can't have it 😭 

[SmartHomeH-TAGS]

Did you try selecting your account profile picture (top right) in the Google Home app?

And then Home Settings.

Scroll down to near bottom.

Select Early Access and sign up.

[wjeva]

hi I've noticed that in the last few months suddenly the radio station I'm playing will stop broadcasting on my nest mini smart speaker (this is since changing to Gemini) i don't know whether it is due to the internet connection which seems fine on all the other devices unless it's just the station itself 

[Matt202]

Definitely not the station you're listening to. I had the same problem and it happened on every station I choose. It didn't matter if it was broadcast on iHeart or TuneIn or any other streaming platform, it would stop after about an hour of play. I finally had enough and reverted every device back to the Google Assistant. I haven't had a problem with it since

[Shahedulislan95]

Md Shawon Kazi 

[Oscar010]

Hi, I have the Gemini early access option in Home but it won't let me activate it. I'm from Spain. 

[John_]

Gemimi worked great on my google speakers. I then switched Home to a 2nd address and at the other house Gemini had not been installed.  The speakers at the 2nd address still use the old Google Assistant.

[Vanderson]

Olá! Os meus Google Nest mini de segunda geração ainda não recebeu a atualização do Gemini. Já estou inscrito no programa de testes e mesmo assim não chegou a atualização! Como posso receber? Sou do Brasil 

[f150bft]

For those that have older home speakers that still work fine ..I don't want to buy new speakers just to get my continued conversation back that I lost getting Gemini. Either bring it back or give us a trade in allowance.

[SmartHomeH-TAGS]

@f150bft 

Continued Conversation has been reinstated for free.

https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/devices/how-to-use-gemini-continued-conversation/