Earlier this month, Google revealed that Gemini will officially take over from Google Assistant on its smart home devices, covering hardware released over the past decade. Now, that transition has taken its first real step forward, with the early access program going live.
Anish Kattukaran, Google Home’s Chief Product Officer, shared on social media that the initial wave of early access is now being rolled out to users in the United States. While a small number of users had already spotted elements of the update, this marks the first official phase of the rollout.
The early access program introduces a more advanced, conversational AI experience powered by Gemini. Users gain access to many of the same capabilities found in Gemini on the web and mobile, while still being able to rely on familiar voice commands for everyday smart home tasks.
Google has also published a detailed guide on its official blog, listing 100 example commands to try with Gemini in Google Home. These range from playing music and managing routines to switching off all smart lights at bedtime.
On Reddit, US-based users report that they’re beginning to see the “Gemini for Home” upgrade appear in the Google Home app. Those enrolled in early access may receive a pop-up notification the next time they open the app on their phones.
For users who haven’t signed up yet, access can be requested by tapping the profile icon in the Google Home app, navigating to Settings, and selecting Early Access. While sign-ups are open in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland, only users in the United States are currently being granted access.
Unsurprisingly, the transition has caused some confusion among users. To address this, Google has published an extensive FAQ covering key topics such as supported features, limitations, and language availability.
Alongside the free Gemini experience, Google is also introducing paid subscription tiers that replace existing Nest Aware plans. These subscriptions unlock more advanced AI-powered features, while core Gemini functionality remains available at no cost. Google has previously outlined what additional benefits users can expect from these premium options.
