The Google Smart Home is Getting a Major Upgrade
The Google smart home is getting one of its biggest upgrades in years. In addition to the recent launch of a new Google TV Streamer and Nest Learning Thermostat, the company is bringing Gemini, its set of artificial intelligence (AI) large language models (LLMs), to its smart home experience with new AI-generated summaries, automations, and a Gemini-powered search feature.
Gemini-Powered Nest Surveillance & Search
Beginning today, Google is adding Gemini to the smart home Nest cameras in the Google Home app, using AI-powered image recognition to generate descriptions of what the camera captures. This feature is only available for cameras in a Nest Aware Plus subscription.
Google shared the example of a camera looking into a backyard where kids jump into a swimming pool. The description read, "Three children jumping into a swimming pool, chasing after a pool toy. The sun shines brightly, casting long shadows," instead of an ambiguous "motion detected."
This approach reduces false alerts and provides rich descriptions of captured information. I asked Google if the feature would work with Nest Aware’s person identification tech, which recognizes previously identified people to give you more specific alerts. Google said this option isn’t available yet, but the company is working on it.
Coming Soon: A More Powerful Smart Home Assistant
Nest cameras’ Gemini-powered alerts will let you create automations based on what is detected in the image. For example, you can ask Google Assistant if your kids left their bikes on the driveway and then tell Assistant to remind them to bring their bikes into the garage when they arrive from school. Gemini will set an automation through a camera to tell whoever arrives between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm to bring their bikes into the garage.
Conclusion
The Google smart home is getting a major upgrade with the addition of Gemini to its Nest cameras and smart home experience. With AI-generated summaries, automations, and a Gemini-powered search feature, users will have a more intelligent and intuitive smart home experience.
FAQs
Q: What is Gemini?
A: Gemini is a set of artificial intelligence (AI) large language models (LLMs) developed by Google.
Q: What features does Gemini bring to the Google smart home?
A: Gemini brings AI-generated summaries, automations, and a Gemini-powered search feature to the Google smart home.
Q: Is Gemini available for all Nest cameras?
A: No, Gemini is only available for cameras in a Nest Aware Plus subscription.
Q: Will Gemini work with Nest Aware’s person identification tech?
A: Not yet, but Google is working on it.
Q: When will the updated Google Assistant be available?
A: The updated Google Assistant is coming soon and will be available for existing Nest smart speakers and displays.
