After years of hints, Google unveiled its latest smart home overhaul in early October: Gemini for Home. As the name suggests, the new service infuses Gemini’s generative AI tools directly into the Google Home ecosystem. While Gemini had limited compatibility with Google Home before, Gemini for Home is a complete replacement for Google Assistant across its smart home lineup.
Gemini for Home also comes with a bevy of changes to the Google smart home: new tech, a redesigned Google Home app and a Google Home Premium subscription. Let’s examine how these updates may impact retailers.
What is Gemini for Home?
There are two notable differences between Gemini for Home and Google Assistant. All of Google’s other smart home updates support these two goals. First, Gemini for Home has enhanced language processing that listens and speaks more naturally than Google Assistant.
For example, Google claims that you can ask Gemini to add ingredients to a shopping list using just the name of the dish—e.g., cheeseburgers—instead of listing individual ingredients. Gemini then walks you through the ingredient list to account for dietary needs and what you already have on hand. This experience also extends to media and smart home controls—Gemini can now help create custom home automations and describe a security camera clip instead of sending a basic notification.
Gemini for Home’s second major upgrade is Gemini Live, which will be available exclusively to customers paying for the Google Home Premium subscription—provided they have compatible smart home devices.
Although Google Home Premium is a rebadged Nest Aware, complete with cloud video storage for security cameras, Gemini Live focuses on users having conversations with Gemini without constant wake word repetition. Supposedly, the main benefit of Gemini Live is that users won’t have to wait for the assistant to finish speaking or worry that it will lose track of a conversation’s context.
While it remains to be seen if customers will pay $10 to $20 monthly just for Gemini Live, Google’s decision to bundle it with an existing security camera plan helps explain a recent price hike. This is a similar strategy to the competing Amazon Alexa+, which is available as a standalone plan, but most customers will use it only because it comes with an Amazon Prime subscription.
Google’s latest smart devices
Google announced four new smart home devices alongside the reveal of Gemini for Home. Three new Nest Cam models are available now—Nest Cam Outdoor (2nd gen), Nest Cam Indoor (3rd gen), and Nest Doorbell (3rd gen)—are the company’s first foray into 2K video resolution. This helps Google regain some ground in the market, as many competitors adopted 2K video years ago.
Notably, these updated models require a power cord as none have a battery-powered version yet. This is likely because the additional Gemini for Home capabilities require a constant power supply to maintain an internet connection.
The Google Home Speaker, which leaked during an event in August, also made an appearance, though it won’t be available until Spring 2026. Its main upgrade over the Google Nest Audio, beyond Gemini for Home, is 360º audio that seems to compete directly with the Apple HomePod Mini and Amazon Echo Dot Max. Crucially, it’s Google’s first device that can pair with a Google TV Streamer for home theater audio—another area where Apple and Amazon have a comfortable lead.
What retailers need to know
From a retail perspective, Google’s decision to bring Gemini for Home to all of its existing speakers and displays likely won’t increase sales on its own, but it is a good hook for the holidays. Likewise, it’s an opportunity to connect with first-time buyers and customers wanting upgraded tech that brings out the best of Gemini for Home.
Google threw a curveball into the security camera market by announcing a partnership with Walmart, which will sell compatible smart devices for Google Home Premium. This mirrors Apple’s playbook for HomeKit Secure Video, which provides video storage for multiple camera brands.
Both services aim to solve the smart home subscription problem, where many security camera companies sell proprietary plans that fragment the market. Manufacturers and retailers should take note. Since Google Home Premium won’t be exclusive to Google’s mid- to high-end security camera range, budget brands can leverage its broad appeal to attract new customers.
Leveraging these new Google Home APIs is a chance for developers to jump into the smart home security market without needing to create expensive systems of their own. It also stands to reason that manufacturers will get a share in the subscription revenue when their customers choose Google Home Premium. Overall, it’s a good time to consider your Google smart home bundle options.
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