Since December, Google has been rolling out a new upgrade for Assistant on Nest speakers powered by Gemini. Now, Nest Audio devices showcase the vibrant blue and purple colors of Gemini when responding to voice commands. This change is part of a public preview for users who have enabled “Experimental AI features.”
Users with Nest Audio devices using Cast firmware 3.75.468348 are experiencing this update. However, there’s no word yet on the 2nd-gen Nest Mini, which may lack the necessary hardware. Google hasn’t tested Gemini on Nest Hubs yet, but many are curious about how it will look alongside the upcoming Google TV experience.
This shift is more than just cosmetic; it invites questions about branding. In August, Google announced plans to enhance Assistant with Gemini tech. Initially, the focus was on keeping “Google Assistant” as the brand name for home devices while transitioning mobile experiences solely to Gemini. But at CES 2025, they indicated that “Assistant” on Android and Google TV would be getting this upgrade too. Recently, they’ve begun to refer to it as “Gemini on Google TV.”
This brings us to a potential larger rebranding. As Google integrates Gemini across different platforms, it may benefit the company to unify its branding under the Gemini name. A cohesive identity can enhance user experience and streamline how people interact with these devices.
Interestingly, recent data suggests that smart speaker usage is growing rapidly. According to a report by the Consumer Technology Association, nearly 30% of U.S. households own at least one smart speaker, reflecting a strong market trend toward more integrated smart home experiences. As more users adopt these technologies, branding clarity will become increasingly important. Adjustments like these could significantly influence how consumers perceive and use voice assistants in their daily lives.
This evolution not only marks a change for Google but also for the smart home industry at large. As companies like Google push boundaries, it will be fascinating to see how user opinions adapt and what trends emerge on social media regarding these changes.