Google drops Gemini for Home updates: Here are 3 you should know

Source: Mashable Tech

Google has announced a series of updates for Gemini for Home, its AI‑powered upgrade to Google Assistant, including a new “Live Search” feature for Nest cameras. The enhancements come after mixed reactions to earlier changes, such as the shift of previously free features behind a Google Home Premium subscription. Head of product for Google Home and Nest, Anish Kattukaran, outlined the latest improvements on X, ranging from voice‑command fixes to better location accuracy.

“Live Search” for Nest cameras

Google’s latest Nest cameras: the Nest Cam Indoor (3rd gen), Nest Cam Outdoor (2nd gen) and Nest Doorbell (3rd gen).

The most notable update is Live Search, available only to Premium subscribers ($10 per month or $100 per year). With Live Search, you can ask Gemini to assess the current state of your home, e.g., “Hey Google, is there a car in the driveway?” If you have Nest cameras installed, Gemini will provide an answer based on the live feed. This differs from Google’s AI‑powered “Search Live” feature for smartphones, which lets users request real‑time information via the phone camera.

Additional Nest upgrades include:

• Yale Lock smart‑lock integration is now out of beta and generally available in the Home app, allowing you to manage passcodes and guest access.
• Nest WiFi Pro has received performance and security enhancements.

Fixes to voice commands including cut‑offs

The Google Home Speaker, launched in Oct. 2025.

Several updates target how users interact with Google devices:

• Reduced premature cut‑offs: The team has significantly lowered instances where the assistant stops listening before you finish speaking, enabling smoother, more fluid turn‑taking during conversations.
• Improved device context: Gemini now better distinguishes between devices in the same room (e.g., kitchen lights vs. kitchen appliances) and understands custom device names. If you have a uniquely named light like “Table Glow,” Gemini will recognize it as a light based on manufacturer data, even without the word “light” in the name.

Better location accuracy at home

Gemini for Home will now tailor responses more precisely to your home address, which you set in the Google Home app. This means news, weather, and other location‑specific information will be customized for each residence.

Command targeting has also been refined: when you ask a device to turn off lights, the action will apply only to the location you’re currently in, which is especially useful for users with multiple homes linked to a single Google Home account.