Google has significantly improved Gemini for Home, enhancing its ability to manage your smart home.
Google has recently upgraded Gemini for Home with enhanced features and quicker controls.
If you own a Google smart display or speaker, there are some new updates to be aware of. Google has introduced a series of enhancements to Gemini for Home, making the assistant significantly smarter and faster on smart speakers and displays.
Gemini for Home is becoming more intelligent and personalized
The most notable update is that Gemini can now utilize information saved in Ask Home to respond to questions related to cameras. For example, if you have saved a note mentioning that your nanny's name is Alice, you can inquire when Alice arrived, and Gemini will automatically provide the relevant camera footage.
Additionally, you can request a Home Brief using your speaker or display to receive a quick overview of everything that occurred at home while you were away. On smart displays, Gemini will now display thumbs-up and thumbs-down buttons following most voice commands, making it easier to give quick feedback to Google.
Response times have also seen enhancements across the board. The backend processing for common commands has been streamlined, so tasks like turning lights on, setting alarms, and managing timers should feel significantly faster than previously.
Adult users will also receive more useful responses to general inquiries, including cocktail recipes, while parental controls remain in effect to safeguard younger users.
The Google Home app is also receiving valuable updates
These updates coincide with the release of version 4.16 of the Google Home app, which introduces its own array of improvements. Device setup is now more straightforward due to a new QR code discovery flow that automatically guides you to the correct setup path for your device.
Nest Thermostat users can now pause outdoor temperature settings with a single tap, without disrupting their long-term schedule. Thermostat schedule banners now offer more relevant and timely information.
Lastly, iPhone users can now manage compatible third-party thermostats and air conditioners directly within the app, bringing them in line with the capabilities already available to Android users.
Manisha Priyadarshini is a technology and entertainment writer with over nine years of editorial experience.
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Google has significantly improved Gemini for Home, enhancing its ability to manage your smart home.
Google has launched a new update for Gemini for Home that features a more intelligent camera search, quicker device controls, enhanced onboarding, and various improvements to the Google Home app.
