Google has unveiled its new Gemini-powered smart home lineup and AI strategy, positioning its AI assistant Gemini at the core of refreshed Google Home and Nest devices. This reimagined approach follows Amazon's recent Echo launch, highlighting an intensifying competition in the AI-driven home sector.
Google’s aim is to extend Gemini’s capabilities beyond just its own hardware, making it available to other device manufacturers, reminiscent of how Android’s open platform fostered an expansive device ecosystem. The company plans to keep innovating with flagship hardware, particularly where Gemini’s potential can shine, while encouraging third-party OEMs and partners to integrate Gemini regardless of price point or form factor.
The new Nest lineup features products like the Nest Cam Outdoor, Nest Cam Indoor, and Nest Doorbell—all updated to leverage Gemini’s intelligence. Additionally, Google teased its next-generation Google Home speaker for spring 2026 and revealed a partnership with Walmart to launch affordable indoor cameras and doorbells under the “onn” brand.
Notably, Google is prioritizing current device owners by rolling out Gemini features to devices with adequate processing power, using cloud APIs and the Matter smart home standard for broad compatibility. This ensures Gemini’s reach to over 800 million devices—including both Google and third-party products—while the company refines experiences before releasing new hardware.
Gemini enhances user interaction by enabling more conversational, contextually aware commands. Users can reference vague details—like a movie or song—and Gemini will intuit the correct response, such as playing music, explaining lyrics, or suggesting content. It can handle more complex household management tasks like creating shopping lists based on recipes, setting nuanced timers, and chaining multiple requests.
Device naming is now simplified, and Gemini can manage routines, automate energy usage monitoring, and suggest home security setups via the new “Ask Home” feature. These improvements are facilitated by Google’s upgraded Home app, now more stable and powered by Gemini.
The app uses AI to summarize camera activity, describe detected events, and guide users with direct answers and recommendations, streamlining daily home routines. Gemini Live introduces continuous conversational interaction without the need to repeat “Hey Google,” promising a more natural AI experience.
Google’s toolkit, reference hardware, and SDK support further empower partners and developers, reinforcing its market-wide AI ambitions. The Nest and Walmart devices are available now, while the new Home speaker is due spring 2026.