Google is expected to unveil new Gemini-powered Google Home speakers at its upcoming I/O 2026 event later this month. In the meantime, the company is focused on swiftly implementing enhancements to Gemini in Google Home to improve user experience. The latest update for Gemini in Home has made it both smarter and quicker.

Google Home indicates that Gemini will now respond more rapidly to your connected smart home devices. This improvement has been achieved by optimizing backend processing for common tasks such as controlling lights, alarms, and timers. Users should find Gemini to be “noticeably quicker” for most daily activities.

Additionally, Gemini in Home can now utilize information stored in Ask Home to deliver more precise responses. For instance, if you have saved details about your family or friends, Gemini will reference this information when handling camera inquiries. This means that if you ask whether your nanny has arrived, Gemini can recognize a familiar face and identify her as “Alice.”

On your smart display or speaker, you can request a Home Brief to receive a summary of events that occurred while you were away.

If you interact with Gemini on a smart display, it will now show a thumbs-up or thumbs-down icon following most voice commands. You can click the appropriate button to give Google quick feedback.

Regrettably, these enhancements to Gemini in Google Home are currently accessible only to users participating in the Early Access program. However, considering Google’s approach to rolling out these updates, it is likely that these features will soon be available to the general public.

The Google Home app is also receiving a streamlined device setup process.

In addition to enhancing the Gemini experience, Google is implementing several improvements to the Google Home app. This includes a more straightforward device setup process that involves scanning a QR code. The app will then automatically guide you to the appropriate setup page based on the type of device.

iPhone users can now utilize the Google Home app to directly control third-party thermostats and air conditioning units. Android users have previously had access to this feature.

Further enhancements to the Google Home app include the option to immediately pause outdoor temperature adjustments via the thermostat controller. This will not impact your long-term temperature settings. Moreover, the thermostat schedule banners in the Google Home app now show the latest information according to your current environment and schedule.