Google launches first smart speaker in six years, but Gemini AI feels unfinished

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Google has released the Google Home Speaker, its first new smart speaker in six years and its first device built around the Gemini AI assistant. The launch signals a renewed commitment from Google to the smart home space after years of limited hardware investment. Smart speakers have broadly struggled to move beyond basic tasks like playing music, setting timers, and controlling lights, with AI seen as the key to unlocking new value. Amazon made a similar push last fall with a revamped Alexa-powered device, and Google is now following suit. However, early impressions suggest that Gemini for Home still feels incomplete, tempering excitement around an otherwise well-designed product.

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