Google Home gets upgraded Gemini voice assistant and new camera controls

Google has rolled out a significant update to its Google Home platform, enhancing the user experience with the introduction of the Gemini 3.1 voice assistant. This upgrade follows last year's AI-driven redesign and promises to address several common smart home challenges. With the new update, navigating camera feeds becomes more intuitive, and AI event labeling is expected to be more user-friendly. Users who opted for early access should already notice the improvements with Gemini 3.1. Initially launched on other platforms in February, this latest version is finally making its way to Google’s smart speakers, allowing them to utilize Gemini 3.1's advanced reasoning capabilities. According to Google, the upgraded assistant will be better at interpreting and executing complex, multi-step voice commands. The company has highlighted the model’s performance in various AI evaluations, demonstrating its improved ability to handle intricate prompts and logic problems. While the practical benefits for a smart speaker, which typically deals with brief interactions, remain to be seen, users can expect more seamless conversations with their smart home devices. Additionally, the AI-driven Ask Home feature is set to expand beyond the app. Soon, users will be able to access a Home-specific Gemini chatbot via the web interface, enabling them to check camera history and set up automations through a conversational approach. This feature will initially be introduced as a preview, hinting at more expansive capabilities for Google Home users in the near future.