Agents & Products

The Gemini-Powered Google Home Speaker Is Finally Here

Arriving six years after Google’s last smart speaker, the new HomePod-style device was redesigned to play host to Gemini’s chatbot.

Get smart on it

Google has released a new smart speaker six years after its last dedicated speaker model, redesigned to feature the Gemini assistant instead of the previous Google Assistant. The device costs $100 and begins preorders on June 17, with sales starting June 25, available in four colors. Gemini represents a significant upgrade over Google Assistant, understanding natural conversation better and allowing users to string multiple commands together, ask follow-up questions without repeating the wake phrase, and make mid-sentence corrections. The speaker includes features like Gemini Live (a back-and-forth conversation mode available to Google Home Premium subscribers), improved sound isolation through local models, a glowing light ring at the base to indicate when it's listening, and support for Thread and Matter smart home standards.

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