In Gemini, Google is making smart home controls available to everybody. In addition to allowing you to control your smart lighting, thermostat, speakers, and other devices that are linked to your Google account, the Google Home extension in the Gemini app is now adding a few additional functions.
Last November, Google gave the extension a sneak peek. When communicating with Gemini, you can use natural language to control your smart home. For example, you could say, “The sun is too bright in the living room,” to get your smart blinds to close. However, Gemini may now execute several commands, such as “Dim the kitchen lamp but turn on the armchair light too.” You can also ask Gemini about the state of your devices, such if you left your porch light on, by using the Google Home extension.
Google will also enable you to operate “non-sensitive” smart home appliances, such as your lights, from the lock screen of your phone. Additional upgrades include an improved thermostat control design that resembles the one seen inside Google Home, as well as the option to change the volume, pause, and restart media on smart speakers, monitors, and TVs from the Gemini app. Additionally, Gemini will launch the Google Home app automatically for camera and lock security-related operations.
Following a significant update to Gemini that enables it to handle increasingly complicated tasks across several apps, the Google Home extension was released. By enabling the Google Home extension and logging into Gemini using the same account you use for Home, you can test the integration out for yourself. Although it launches today, it will be implemented “over the coming weeks.”