Google will settle its Assistant spying lawsuit for $68 million
Google will settle its Assistant spying lawsuit for $68 million Google could owe you some money, now that it’s moving to settle a class-action lawsuit over how it handled recordings captured when its devices were activated by something other than Google Assistant’s actual trigger word, “Ok Google.” German outlet VRT NWS‘s 2019 report exposed the […]
How AI broke the smart home in 2025
How AI broke the smart home in 2025 This morning, I asked my Alexa-enabled Bosch coffee machine to make me a coffee. Instead of running my routine, it told me it couldn’t do that. Ever since I upgraded to Alexa Plus, Amazon’s generative-AI-powered voice assistant, it has failed to reliably run my coffee routine, coming […]
Camera support could be the boost Matter needs
Camera support could be the boost Matter needs The Matter smart home standard is adding cameras to its latest spec. It’s finally happening. Three years after Matter launched, the interoperability standard now includes the most popular smart home devices: cameras. The Matter 1.5 spec, announced today, adds support for all types of video cameras – […]
Google says its confusing Gemini Home rollout is going just great
Google says its confusing Gemini Home rollout is going just great Gemini is the new smart home voice assistant slowly rolling out to Google’s smart displays and smart speakers. Google started rolling out its new Gemini voice assistant for its smart speakers two weeks ago and, in a blog post marking the anniversary, the company seems […]
Google hints at a new Nest Hub
Google hints at a new Nest Hub Google says it’s committed to the smart display category, meaning we may see new versions of its Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max “soon.” Last week, Google announced a new smart speaker for its AI-infused Gemini smart home platform, but there was no sign of a new smart […]
I tried Amazon and Google’s new smart home gadgets, ask me anything!
I tried Amazon and Google's new smart home gadgets, ask me anything! The Verge’s senior reviewer, Jen Tuohy, is taking your questions about Amazon and Google’s new devices. Hi! I’m Jennifer Pattison Tuohy (aka Jen), The Verge’s smart home reviewer. I just spent the last week in New York City getting hands-on with the new […]
Nest is dead, long live Google Home
Nest is dead, long live Google Home This week, Google announced that it has finally completed moving “the best” of its Nest-branded smart home devices from the Nest app to the Google Home app. This means users of Google Nest hardware shouldn’t have to bounce between two apps anymore and can finally delete the Nest […]
Tariffs kill the Starling Home Hub, Google Nest’s best bridge to Apple Home
Tariffs kill the Starling Home Hub, Google Nest's best bridge to Apple Home The makers of the Starling Home Hub say they have discontinued the popular device. | Image: Starling I have bad news for ecosystem straddlers who use Google Nest products in their smart homes but rely on iPhones and Apple Home for control: […]
Google’s first Gemini smart home speaker detailed in leak
Google's first Gemini smart home speaker detailed in leak Google’s first Gemini smart home speaker detailed in leak Google’s mystery new speaker appeared briefly in its keynote alongside F1 driver Lando Norris. Google announced plenty of new hardware at this week’s Made by Google event, but halfway through we were distracted by the brief appearance […]
Gemini for Home is Google’s biggest smart home play in years
Gemini for Home is Google's biggest smart home play in years Gemini for Home is Google’s biggest smart home play in years Google’s Gemini for Home will bring a new AI-powered voice assistant to its Nest smart displays and speakers. It’s finally happening: Google Assistant in the home is getting its Gemini glow-up. “Gemini for […]