Gemini is coming to every Google smart home device from the last decade – here's how to get early access

• Google is launching a new Gemini for Home assistant
• It replaces Google Assistant and will be available on most current devices
• You can sign up for early access in the Google Home app now

Google Home tech is finally getting a long-awaited Gemini makeover with new AI-powered, conversational talents – and the good news is that you might not need to buy any new gadgets to get it.

Google says Gemini for Home is coming to "every speaker, smart display, camera and doorbell we've made in the last decade" (scroll down for the full list). Not all of those products will get the exact same experience – for example, some won't get the full Gemini Live experience – but that's still an impressive amount of historical support, in theory.

So what's new? Google promises that Gemini for Home will offer a more natural, conversational experience. In fact, it poured cold water on the old Google Assistant experience in the process, stating that "the interaction was functional, not intuitive or natural".

Google added that "it was a transactional tool, not a collaborative partner". Don't wipe your feet on the way out, Google Assistant.

This means we'll get the choice of 10 new voices with improved pacing and intonation, all of which will have access to real-time info. The main benefit will be an understanding of context, which should mean an end to today's more staccato exchanges.

Asking Gemini to do tasks like adding things to your shopping list should also be less onerous. For example, Google says you could ask "Hey Google, add ingredients for Pad Thai to my shopping" instead of breaking it down, or “Hey Google, I’m about to cook, can you turn on the lights," and it'll know only to turn on the kitchen lights.

There will also be an option to chat with no hotword needed. Gemini Live is a more ChatGPT-like experience with an open conversation. To start that, you'll simply say, "Hey Google, let's chat."

How to sign up

Google says it's starting an "early access rollout" for current Google Home devices from this month. It'll start with cameras and doorbells, with speakers and smart displays expected to begin rolling out towards the end of October.

Clearly, we should expect some bugs and bumps in the road during this early phase. Google says it wants to use the period to get feedback from early adopters "as we work to perfect the experience".

Still, if you fancy being among those early testers, it's possible to express your interest today. Google says you simply need to:

• Open the Google Home app (you will need version 4.0 or higher).
• Click on your profile icon in the upper-right corner.
• Tap on Home Settings.
• Scroll down and select the "Early access" option to join.
• You’ll be notified in the app as soon as it’s ready for you to try.

With Google also launching the new Google Home app to help take advantage of these new features, there are plenty of new toys for smart home fans to look forward to.

Naturally, you'll have to pay for some of the best ones, with two new tiers of Google Home Premium also arriving today (to replace Nest Aware). But the long-awaited AI upgrade that our smart homes have been crying out for is finally on the horizon.

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