Gemini AI Assistant can now control your Smart Home devices
Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) assistant is gaining support for a new extension that allows users to control their smart home appliances. The AI-powered virtual assistant for Android devices regularly receives expansion support to perform more tasks on the device and match the performance level of the older Google Assistant. Currently, Gemini Assistant can manage Google Workspace apps, Google Maps, YouTube, YouTube Music and more. It is also rumored to get support for calling and messaging on the lock screen.
Google Home extension added to Gemini
In his support pagesGoogle has detailed the new extension for its internal AI chatbot Gemini. Users of Android devices with the Gemini app installed and Gemini set as the default virtual assistant can access the Google Home extension. However, users should ensure that both the Gemini app and the smart home devices are both connected to the same Google account.
Google said users will have access to smart home devices such as lights, sockets, switches, air conditioning units, thermostats, fans, curtains, smart TVs, speakers, washing machines and more. However, the extension cannot complete security device actions that require a PIN, stream video feed from cameras, or perform routines.
Because Gemini is an AI chatbot, it does support natural language prompts that Google Assistant cannot. For example, users can say to the virtual assistant: “Set up the dining room for a romantic date night” or “Set the air conditioning to a good temperature for sleeping”, and it can understand the requirements and complete the tasks.
To use this functionality, users must first open the Gemini app and log into their Google account. They can then ask it to perform a smart device task. The app will ask users to connect the Gemini app to Google Home, after which users will need to enable the extension and give the app permission to access and control the smart devices connected to the same account.
Notably, the feature is currently in public preview and is available to those who have signed up for Google Home’s Public Preview program. The feature works with both text and audio input, but currently only accepts English-language prompts. Gemini AI Assistant is currently not available on iOS.
