Gemini Lands On Google Nest Smart Speakers
(Photo by Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Google's AI charge has stepped up a notch, with users on Reddit suggesting that Gemini has hit their Nest smart speakers.
According to a report on 9t05Google, some users - who state that they are enrolled in the Google Home Public Preview program - have spotted a new visual twist when interacting with their Nest Audio speakers: the familiar four-light animation has swapped its usual white tones for Gemini's signature blue and purple glow.
The update, according to the report and user submissions on Reddit, seems to appear only if you've got 'Experimental AI features' enabled, and only on devices running Cast firmware version 3.75.468348.
So far, this color makeover hasn't shown up on the 2nd-gen Nest Mini, which is also eligible for the preview.
There's no sign yet that Nest Hubs have joined the Gemini experiment yet, but it's seemingly only a matter of time, especially with Google already testing a Gemini-powered Google TV experience.
Last year, Google told us that it would use Gemini models to power a more advanced Assistant, but still kept the old Google Assistant name for smart home devices.
However, in March, Google confirmed that the Assistant would be phased out in favor of Gemini.
Millions of users have already made the change on newer Android smartphones but, beyond mobile, Google also announced that it was expanding Gemini's reach to other device types that had previously relied on the Google Assistant, such as tablets, cars, headphones, smartwatches, speakers, smart displays, and TVs.
Unifying everything under Gemini makes sense as Google pushes AI as the heart of its ecosystem, and those purple lights might just be the first clue that the Assistant brand is on its way out.
With a revamped Siri set to launch later this year - potentially with new Apple smart home hardware - and the AI supercharged Alexa+ already rolling out, it's going to be fascinating to see how the next phase of the smart home revolution plays out.
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