After years of incremental updates, Google is betting that its Gemini AI can reinvent the smart speaker. On Wednesday, the company introduced its first audio device built specifically for Gemini with the $99.99 Google Home Speaker. This new device replaces the rigid commands of the Google Assistant era with more conversational Gemini interactions.
The Google Home Speaker is the first standalone smart speaker from the tech giant since the Nest Audio in September 2020. That older device arrived when smart speakers were seen mainly as handy controllers for smart home and music systems, lacking the intelligence of today's AI chatbots. Commands had to be phrased correctly to work. With Gemini, that changes.
Natural Language and Multistep Requests
You can now speak using natural language and even make multistep requests. For example, say "turn off all lights except my bedside lamp" or "dim the kitchen lights, play relaxing music, and set a 20-minute timer." You can also correct yourself mid-sentence: Google points out that saying "Turn off the coffee maker… I mean, turn it on!" will be understood correctly by Gemini.
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Ten New Voices and Continued Conversation
The device comes with ten new voices capable of two-way conversations on topics beyond smart home tasks. You can ask nuanced questions and dive deeper, just like when speaking with Gemini on your smartphone. The "Continued Conversation" feature keeps the microphone briefly active to allow follow-up questions without repeating "OK Google."
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Design-wise, the new speaker resembles previous models with a 3D-knit textile wrap and a rounded 3.4 x 4.2-inch size. In the US, colors include Jade and Berry, while global options are Hazel and Porcelain. A new ring light at the bottom indicates whether the speaker is listening, thinking, or responding.
Google Home Premium Subscription
Not all AI smarts are free. Google Home Premium costs $10 per month (or $100 per year) and unlocks more powerful features: free-flowing conversations with Gemini Live (activated by saying "Hey Google, let's chat"), analyzing activity from Nest cameras, and home summaries. To entice users, Google offers a six-month free trial of Premium.
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Whether these capabilities justify another subscription remains to be seen, especially since many Gemini features are available without paying. The device is available for preorder now and ships later this month. If successful, Google will have revived the smart speaker lineup with generative AI and found a way to monetize it.
For tech enthusiasts, this launch parallels other industry moves: for instance, 2028 iPhones will feature 1.4nm A22 Pro chips, showing Apple's own AI hardware push. To learn more about the evolution of voice assistants, see the Wikipedia page on Google Home.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/17/google-bets-on-gemini-to-reinvent-the-smart-home-speaker
