Google’s latest smart home upgrade, the Gemini voice assistant, is being rolled out to select Google Home smart displays and speakers, but it has not been without confusion and dissatisfaction. While Google asserts that the transition is proceeding smoothly, initial user feedback presents a more complex situation. In a blog post celebrating the early stages of Gemini’s rollout, the company highlighted some positive responses, quoting a user who stated, “My Google Home just got upgraded with Gemini. It’s actually useful now beyond asking for today’s weather.” However, underlying this optimism, the company’s own FAQ suggests that not everything is functioning as intended.
Common complaints include fundamental issues that challenge the core functionality of a home assistant, such as understanding basic commands and controlling smart devices. According to Google’s FAQ, users have reported problems like, “Gemini for Home voice assistant is not fully understanding my query… (Example: I tried to set an alarm for 5pm but it set it for 5am.)” Another prevalent frustration involves the assistant’s failure to properly manage connected devices like lights, locks, and thermostats. These features are essential for any voice assistant, especially since Gemini is intended to replace the traditional Google Assistant on all smart speakers and displays. The Gemini update is part of a broader overhaul of Google Home, introducing AI-powered intelligence across the platform.
This includes a new Ask Home chatbot in the Google Home app that enables users to issue natural language text commands, as well as Nest security cameras that provide detailed descriptions of their visuals for the daily “Home Brief.” However, accessing Gemini’s new voice assistant is not straightforward; it necessitates an Early Access sign-up, a process separate from Google’s Public Preview program. The assistant won’t be available to everyone until next spring when the company plans to release a new Google Home smart speaker. So far, very few users have received Gemini, and those who have report varied experiences.
While Google promises a more conversational and context-aware assistant capable of handling multiple commands simultaneously, early adopters indicate that complex instructions, such as “Turn on the lights except in the bedroom, lock the door, and turn up the heat,” are not yet functioning properly. This inconsistency suggests Gemini may still lag behind Google’s previous assistant in terms of reliability. Anish Kattukaran from Google Home explained that the challenge resides in adapting generative AI for smart home tasks. “LLMs are great at being creative, but not so good at doing the same thing over and over again with the same predictable output,” he noted.
The integration of large language models (LLMs) into voice assistants promises a more natural experience, but it also brings uncertainty — not the best scenario for home automation. With users finding it difficult to complete everyday commands, Google’s narrative of a “smooth rollout” may be more aspirational than factual. As both Google and Amazon’s Alexa Plus continue to evolve towards generative AI-driven smart homes, it is evident that there remains significant progress to be made before AI assistants can reliably manage consistency and control in our everyday lives.
