Summary: Google recently began rolling out its new Gemini voice assistant for Google Home smart speakers. While Google highlights improvements and user enthusiasm, many users report issues with basic functions like setting alarms and controlling smart home devices. The rollout is gradual, with full availability expected next spring alongside a new Google Home speaker. Gemini aims to offer more conversational and context-aware interactions, but early feedback suggests it still has a way to go before it can reliably manage smart home tasks.
Gemini Voice Assistant: A Mixed Start
Two weeks ago, Google started introducing its Gemini voice assistant to Google Home smart speakers. In a blog post celebrating this milestone, Google shared positive user feedback, including a quote praising Gemini for making the Google Home “actually useful now beyond asking for today’s weather.” However, this praise subtly acknowledges past limitations.
Despite the optimism, the post’s FAQ reveals common user concerns, such as Gemini misinterpreting queries—like setting an alarm for 5 a.m. instead of 5 p.m.—and difficulties controlling smart home devices. These are fundamental features for any home voice assistant, and since Gemini will become the default assistant on all Google Home devices, it’s crucial these functions work well.
Challenges with Smart Home Control
Gemini is part of a broader overhaul of Google Home, introducing AI-powered features like the Ask Home chatbot in the Google Home app and enhanced Nest security camera integrations that provide daily Home Briefs. While these features launched in early October, accessing Gemini’s voice assistant requires a separate, complex Early Access sign-up process that began on October 28.
Controlling connected devices such as lights, locks, and thermostats remains a challenge. Google promises Gemini will better understand natural language and handle multiple commands simultaneously—for example, turning on lights except in the bedroom, turning on the TV, locking the front door, and adjusting the temperature with one request. However, early user reports suggest that chaining commands is not yet reliable, and some features may have regressed compared to the previous Google Assistant.
The Slow Rollout and User Experiences
Gemini’s rollout is notably slow, similar to Amazon’s Alexa Plus launch. Many users, including those at The Verge, have yet to receive the update. According to Google Home subreddit discussions, Gemini is still unavailable to most users, with a full launch expected no earlier than next spring, coinciding with the release of a new Google Home speaker.
For those who have access, experiences vary. Google emphasizes Gemini’s conversational abilities and improved context understanding, but real-world testing remains limited. If you have Gemini on your device, sharing your experience can help shed light on its current capabilities. To check if your speaker has Gemini, simply ask, “Ok Google, who are you?”
Looking Ahead: The Future of Gemini
The integration of generative AI with smart home control presents significant challenges. Traditional voice assistants operated on straightforward command-and-control logic, but large language models (LLMs) like Gemini bring creativity and conversational depth at the cost of consistency. As Anish Kattukaran from Google Home explained, “LLMs are great at being creative, but not so good at doing the same thing over and over again with the same predictable output.” Both Google and Amazon are still working to perfect this balance.
While Gemini shows promise in making home assistants more natural and intuitive, it’s clear there’s still progress to be made before users can fully trust AI assistants to manage their smart homes reliably.