After years of incremental updates, Google is betting that its Gemini AI can reinvent its smart speaker. On Wednesday, the company introduced its first audio device built specifically for Gemini with the $99.99 Google Home Speaker.
The new Google Home device is the first stand-alone smart speaker from the tech giant from Nest Audio in September 2020. This older device came at a time when smart speakers were largely thought of as easy-to-use controls for your smart home and music playback systems. They lacked the intelligence of today’s AI chatbots, as commands often had to be worded correctly to make things work.
Google Home Speaker changes this as you will be able to speak using natural language requests and even make multi-step requests using the phrase you want. For example, you could tell the speaker to “turn off all the lights except my bedside lamp” or “dim the kitchen lights, play relaxing music and set a timer for 20 minutes.”
You can also make mid-sentence corrections as you speak instead of having to retry requests and Gemini will understand. That means you could say something like, “Turn off the coffee maker… I mean, turn it on!” and artificial intelligence will respond appropriately, Google points out.
Additionally, the device will ship with 10 new voices that can have two-way conversations with you about things that aren’t limited to smart home tasks or other simple commands. You can ask more nuanced questions and dive deeper into topics you want to know about, just like you could when talking to Geminis on your smartphone. The speaker’s microphone can also stay on for a while when using the Continued Chat feature, so you can ask more natural follow-up questions without having to say “OK, Google” again.
The device resembles older versions, with a 3D knitted fabric wrap and a rounded 3.4 x 4.2-inch design. In the US, the speaker is available in Jade and Berry colors, in addition to the Hazel and Porcelain options available in the rest of the world. A new chime light at the bottom will indicate if the speaker is listening, thinking or responding.
But not all of the new device’s clever AI technologies will be free.
Google will sell its Google Home Premium subscription plans for $10 a month (or $100 a year) if you want to take advantage of more powerful AI features. This includes the ability to have more non-streaming conversations with Gemini Live, which you start by saying “Hey Google, let’s chat.” Home Premium can also help you query and understand activity recorded on your home’s Nest cameras, or give you summaries of what happened at home while you were away.
Whether these features are compelling enough to warrant another monthly subscription remains to be seen, particularly when many of the device’s Gemini features are available free of charge.
Google will try to get you used to the advanced features by offering them free for six months before forcing you to sign up. If successful, Google will have revitalized its line of smart speakers with genetic artificial intelligence and found a way to get some customers to pay for these technological advances.
The device is available for pre-order now and will ship later this month.
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