Google Home App Gets Gemini AI Upgrade With Faster Performance and Smarter Controls

Google is taking its smart home ambitions to the next level with a major upgrade to the Google Home app. After years of complaints about slow navigation, frequent crashes, and long loading times, the company has addressed the fundamentals of speed, stability, and reliability before introducing its latest AI features.

Anish Kattukaran, Chief Product Officer for Google Home and Nest, admitted during a press briefing that the app “has not been the experience that we’ve always wanted it to be.” The new update significantly improves performance: it launches 70% faster, uses less memory and power, and crashes 80% less often. Over the past year, Google pushed more than 100 updates, expanded support from 750 million to 800 million devices, and worked with over 50,000 partner companies to enhance the ecosystem.

The headline feature is the integration of Gemini AI, which replaces the older Google Assistant. Gemini enables more natural language processing, allowing users to control multiple devices and create automations with simple commands. The new Ask Home feature lets users type or speak requests such as “lock the front door after 10 p.m.” or “dim the living room lights,” and the system responds faster and more accurately than before.

The app also has a redesigned interface with three clear tabs: Home, Activity, and Automations. This layout makes it easier to find devices, track household events, and set up routines, creating a more intuitive smart home experience for both beginners and advanced users.

To complement the software upgrades, Google is releasing a new Google Home smart speaker and updated Nest Cameras and Doorbells, all optimized for Gemini’s capabilities. These devices integrate AI features such as intelligent motion detection and activity summaries while offering improved hardware performance. Google is also introducing Google Home Premium, a subscription service for advanced users, providing extended video history, deeper insights, and sophisticated automation tools.

The Gemini upgrade represents one of the most significant shifts in Google’s smart home strategy. By combining AI-powered features, faster performance, and a simplified interface, Google Home now positions itself as a stronger competitor in the crowded smart home market.

With this upgrade, Google is transforming the Home app from a simple control panel into a fully integrated digital assistant, offering millions of users worldwide a smarter, smoother, and more connected way to manage their homes.