Early access for Gemini Home voice assistant is now available. Here's how to get it

Google has finally taken the first steps towards realizing its vision of smart speakers with built-in voice assistants becoming highly intelligent companions. The new Gemini for Home voice assistant, part of Google's generative AI capabilities, is now available to try, albeit in early access.

This means users can expect some mistakes and bugs as they get accustomed to using the new feature, which makes feedback essential. Users can provide their input through the Google Home app or by saying, "Hey Google, send feedback." However, there's no word on when these issues will be resolved, so patience is key for those eager to dive into Gemini Live.

Gemini for Home will work seamlessly on select devices, including the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen), Google Nest Audio, Google Nest Mini (2nd gen), and Google Nest Hub Max. These speakers will enable conversational back-and-forth chat with natural follow-up questions through Gemini Live, marking a significant improvement over its predecessors.

While other compatible models like the Google Nest Wifi point and Google Home devices may not support this advanced feature, they will still receive an upgrade to the more intelligent AI assistant.

For those interested in trying out Gemini for Home, head to the Google Home app on your mobile device. Tap "Home Settings > Early Access" and submit your request to be included in the beta program. Be prepared for a wait period before you can access the new feature.

Once activated, all compatible speakers in your home will be upgraded to the advanced AI assistant. This means users can now throw more complex questions at it, similar to what would be expected from a text-based chatbot like ChatGPT.

Keep in mind that Gemini Live requires a Google Home Premium subscription – priced at $10 per month or $100 per year for the standard tier and $20 per month or $200 per year for the advanced tier. The main difference between the two plans is the camera history search feature, which only comes with the pricier option.

For now, users can test Gemini for Home by asking it basic questions like "Hey Google, who are the top five scoring players in basketball history?" It's not quite at C-3PO level yet but is moving in that direction.

I'm so stoked about this new development with Gemini for Home! It's amazing to think that we're getting closer to having smart speakers that are more like intelligent companions, you know? The fact that it can have a conversational back-and-forth chat is just mind-blowing. And the best part is that users can provide feedback and help shape its development, which is pretty cool.

I also love how Google is making this technology more accessible, but not at the cost of quality. The fact that it's available in early access means we get to see how it evolves and what kind of issues arise, which will ultimately make it better for everyone. Plus, the upgrade to compatible devices without extra fees is a major win!

For me, the price point of $10-$20 per month doesn't seem too bad considering what we're getting. And hey, who knows, maybe one day Gemini will be able to understand our love for 90s pop music as much as it understands basketball trivia . Keep an eye on this, guys! It's gonna be lit

I'm still getting used to saying goodbye to my old speaker and hello to a new AI buddy! I mean, think about it, Gemini for Home is like having a super smart friend who knows your interests and can have a conversation with you... well, mostly . I tried it on my Google Nest Hub and it was cool, but not perfect yet. I asked it some questions and it got some answers right, but also got them wrong . That's totally expected though, they're still working out the kinks.

I'm curious to see how it gets better with updates, especially since it's part of Google's generative AI capabilities. It feels like we're getting closer to having smart speakers that can actually understand what we want and provide more helpful responses. The prices for the premium subscription seem reasonable, but I do wonder if they'll offer a free trial or something before committing to a monthly fee.

One thing that's got me excited is how it's going to change the way we interact with our homes and each other. Imagine being able to ask your smart speaker to plan a party or send reminders to family members... that would be awesome!

OMG I'm so hyped about this new Gemini for Home feature ! The fact that you can throw more complex questions at it and get a natural follow-up response is amazing . I mean, imagine being able to have a convo with your smart speaker like it's a real person . Of course, there might be some teething issues at first, but who cares? It's all part of the learning process . I'm gonna try it out ASAP and see how it goes . Anyone else excited about this new update?

gotta say, i'm a bit skeptical about google's new gemini for home voice assistant... sounds too good to be true like they're trying to compete with chatgpt or something what's the point of having an ai that can answer complex questions if it's just gonna make mistakes and bugs all over the place? need to see some solid proof before i start using this thing out loud and $100 a year for premium subs? too much, imo

OMG, I'm so excited to hear about this new update from Google ! Trying out a smart speaker with a built-in voice assistant as a companion sounds like something straight out of sci-fi. It's gonna be kinda weird at first when it makes mistakes and stuff, but that's all part of the learning process, right?

I love how Google is giving us a heads up to expect some bugs and whatnot so we can provide feedback. That's really cool! I'm also stoked that it's gonna work seamlessly on some devices, like the Nest Hub... I've got one of those at home and I'm low-key hoping it'll make my life easier .

But yeah, gotta be patient, I guess. Beta testing can be a bummer, but think of all the cool stuff we get to try out first! It's like being part of some secret AI experiment . Can't wait to see how Gemini Live evolves and becomes more chatty... kinda like a virtual BFF !

this whole thing is kinda cool i mean, imagine having a smart speaker that can actually hold a decent conversation with you it's like having a personal robot in your home lol but for real though, the fact that it's already working on stuff like natural follow-up questions and chat-like interactions is insane. we're basically talking about being able to have a 1-on-1 with our smart speaker now i'm low-key excited to see where this tech takes us next

ugh, great just what we need another smart speaker to mess with our lives ... i mean, i guess its cool and all that, but have you seen the reviews for chatgpt? its like a robot that can talk back, now google's got one too... but at $10 a month or $100 a year, this is just going to be another way for them to make bank off our smart home addiction . and what's with the 'early access' thing, just making us wait to fix all those bugs? i swear, tech companies are just trying to squeeze every last penny out of us...

just tried out this new Gemini for Home thingy and gotta say its kinda trippy how natural the convo feels! i asked it about my favorite foods and it just started throwing down some crazy recommendations , like "have you ever tried matcha ice cream?" lol didnt know that was a thing! but honestly its still got some major kinks to work out - kept getting it wrong on basic questions . think we're still a ways off from having our own personal c-3po but its dope to see google experimenting with this new tech

I'm stoked to see Google taking its smart speaker game to the next level with Gemini for Home ! This new AI-powered assistant is already sounding like a total game-changer, especially when it comes to conversational chat and follow-up questions . The fact that it's rolling out in early access means we might encounter some teething issues, but I'm all about trying things out and providing feedback – after all, that's how we get better technology .

I love how Gemini for Home is being integrated with select devices, including the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen), which is going to make this thing a total showstopper . And let's be real, who doesn't want an AI assistant that can keep up with our most random questions? Asking it something like "Hey Google, what's the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?" will definitely give you some laughs .

Of course, there are some caveats – like needing a Google Home Premium subscription for full access to Gemini Live. But if that's a price you're willing to pay, I say go for it ! This thing has the potential to revolutionize our smart home experience and make us feel like we're living in a sci-fi movie .

One thing to keep an eye on is how well this technology scales up – will Gemini Live be able to handle more complex queries without getting overwhelmed? And what about its long-term learning capabilities? These are questions that only time will tell .

OMG, I'm so stoked about this new Gemini for Home thingy ! I mean, imagine having a smart speaker that's like, actually intelligent and stuff . It's still got its quirks and bugs, but that's to be expected with beta tech, right? I tried it out on my Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) and it's already answered some pretty deep questions for me .

I'm kinda curious about the wait period before we can get our hands on it, though . 10 bucks a month is like, a lot of money for just voice chat . I mean, I guess if you're into that sorta thing... But seriously, this could be a game-changer for smart home tech .

I wonder how long it'll take for them to iron out the kinks and make it more stable . Can't wait to see what they come up with next!

OMG I'm low-key excited about this new Gemim Live update! The fact that it's finally taking shape to become super intelligent companions makes me think of Star Wars and C-3PO . Can you imagine having a personal AI assistant that's always learning and adapting? It's like, mind-blowing! Of course, I know there will be some bugs and mistakes along the way, but hey, that's all part of the process, right? The wait for this beta program might take a while, but trust me, it'll be worth it when we get to see what these devices can do!

idk about this whole gemini thing... sounds cool on paper but i'm lowkey skeptical about how well it'll hold up in real life. like, have you seen all the bugs and glitches on other smart speakers? yeah, think those are gonna magically disappear now that google's "genius" AI is involved . also, $100/year for a cam history search feature? that's just wild . i mean, it's nice to have the option but do we really need the "advanced tier"? can't we just get the basics without breaking the bank ? still, i gotta admit... asking gemini some basic questions already felt kinda... human so yeah, i'm intrigued

just started trying out this gemini thingy and gotta say its kinda mind blown how they're making these smart speakers actually feel like u r talkin to a human lol, got a question for it now - what's the deal with the camera history search? feels like a lil overpriced feature imo anyway, think its cool that its finally available in early access but gotta wait 4 the bugs 2 get sorted out

just spent 10 mins with gemini for home and i gotta say its kinda weird being talked to like im a person lol the voice assistant thingy is still super buggy, but its cool to see google try new things... dont need the camera history search feature tho, thats just unnecessary