9to5Google reported on October 1, 2025, that Google is launching Gemini for Home, an AI model that replaces Google Assistant on the company's smart speakers and displays. The new system is designed for more natural and complex interactions, allowing users to issue commands without specific phrasing, string together multiple instructions, and ask for media by describing a scene or reciting lyrics. The update will roll out to Google smart speakers and displays released since 2016. Alongside the new assistant, Google released a redesigned Home app for Android and iOS, which it rebuilt for better performance, including up to 70% faster startup and an 80% reduction in crashes.
The redesigned app features a simplified three-tab layout and a new "Ask Home" chat interface for controlling devices. While the core Gemini assistant is a standard update, advanced capabilities require a new Google Home Premium subscription, which starts at $10 a month. These premium features include "Gemini Live" for continuous conversation, detailed AI-powered camera alerts, and the ability to conversationally search video history. Google also announced a new $100 Google Home Speaker, built specifically for Gemini, which is slated to launch in spring 2026.
