Your Google Smart Home Is About To Get Smarter
Google natural AI language alerts from Nest Cams
Google is taking a big step toward making your smart home feel, well, smart, by baking in Gemini AI into the Home APIs that developers use to build their own apps and devices.
Announced during Google I/O 2025 last week, the move means third-party developers will be able to bring Gemini-powered features such as AI security camera summaries, natural-language routines, and proactive automation suggestions into their own smart home apps.
It means that, even if you never open the Google Home app, you could still benefit from all that AI brainpower behind the scenes.
Brands such as Wyze, Ring and Roborock and Govee have introduced their own AI features in the past few months, but the move from Google means their devs could potentially offload this sort of stuff to Gemini within the Home APIs.
At I/O last year, Google first launched the Home APIs and gave a few early partners access to its software and we've already seen the likes of ADT, Yale, Cync, iRobot and Motorola take advantage.
Since then the ecosystem's grown from 600 million to over 750 million supported devices, with Matter giving that number a boost as it's grown in popularity.
One of the more headline-grabbing features from the new AI smarts is the rollout of Gemini-powered capabilities for Nest Cams; the same ones Google started testing in the Home app last fall.
Developers can now bring live view, event history, two-way talk, and camera settings into their own apps, but also take things further with AI-generated summaries and searchable video history.
So you could ask something like:'Did anyone open the back door last night?' and get a relevant clip in return.
That same functionality could land in apps like ADT's or even other home security platforms using the Home APIs, without requiring Google's own UI.
Google is also trying to fix one of the smart home's biggest pain points of complex routine setup.
With the new Gemini-powered features in the Automations API, developers can offer natural language-based automation tools that let users just say what they want: 'Turn on the garage light when I walk in there,' and let the system figure out the rest.
It's similar to the natural language prompts that have arrived with Amazon's Alexa+.
Gemini will also proactively suggest useful routines based on what devices are in the home too, potentially surfacing ideas for automations that users wouldn't have thought of on their own.
Google says that the new Gemini-powered APIs will roll out to a small group of early access partners later this year. You'll need to sign up the Developer Newsletter if you want be among the partners.
Gemini-powered experiences are already showing up in public preview on Nest Audio and Nest Mini speakers for users with a Nest Aware subscription, offering deeper context and more natural back-and-forth control.
With a revamped Siri set to launch later this year - potentially with new Apple smart home hardware - and the AI supercharged Alexa+ already rolling out, it's going to be fascinating to see how the evolution of the smart home revolution plays out.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
The Top 5 Analyst Questions From ADT's Q1 Earnings Call
ADT started 2025 with results that aligned with market expectations, driven by ongoing investments in its ADT Plus platform and improved operational efficiency. Management cited record recurring monthly revenue and historically low customer attrition as key factors supporting stability. CEO Jim DeVries pointed to the company's 'continued strong demand for innovative offerings and premium customer experience' as contributors to the quarter's performance, alongside a notable increase in installation revenue from outright equipment sales. Is now the time to buy ADT? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $1.27 billion vs analyst estimates of $1.24 billion (6.5% year-on-year growth, 2% beat) Adjusted EPS: $0.21 vs analyst estimates of $0.20 (6.8% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $660.8 million vs analyst estimates of $687.3 million (52.1% margin, 3.9% miss) The company reconfirmed its revenue guidance for the full year of $5.13 billion at the midpoint Management reiterated its full-year Adjusted EPS guidance of $0.81 at the midpoint EBITDA guidance for the full year is $2.7 billion at the midpoint, in line with analyst expectations Operating Margin: 25.2%, in line with the same quarter last year Customers: 6.4 million, in line with the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $6.75 billion While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention. Ronan Kennedy (Barclays) asked about the demand environment and macroeconomic uncertainty. CEO Jim DeVries emphasized ADT's resilience in downturns, noting that demand for safety can rise in uncertain times, and retention benefits when relocations slow. George Tong (Goldman Sachs) inquired about the 7% decline in gross recurring monthly revenue additions. DeVries attributed this to tightened credit standards in DIY and health segments, but highlighted growth in the core professional install business. David Page (RBC Capital Markets) sought updates on the State Farm partnership and AI initiatives. DeVries shared that State Farm pilots are progressing and that 90% of customer chats are now handled by AI, with voice AI set for expansion. Peter Christiansen (Citigroup) probed trends in the small business channel and the mix between monitoring and installation revenue. DeVries said small business performance was stable with flat attrition, while Likosar explained that installation revenue growth reflects outright sales via the ADT Plus platform. Yehuda Silverman (Morgan Stanley) questioned the sustainability of improvements in attrition. DeVries outlined ongoing retention initiatives and set a long-term goal to reduce attrition further, noting improvements are generally linear but can fluctuate. Going forward, the StockStory team will be monitoring (1) the pace of adoption and monetization of the ADT Plus platform and related product enhancements, (2) measurable cost savings and customer experience improvements from scaling AI-driven customer service, and (3) the effectiveness of tariff mitigation strategies and their impact on margins. The trajectory of customer retention and new partnership channels, such as State Farm, will also be important to watch. ADT currently trades at $8.11, up from $7.92 just before the earnings. Is the company at an inflection point that warrants a buy or sell? Find out in our full research report (it's free). The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
Forbes
4 hours ago
- Forbes
Google's Quiet Confirmation Of The Pixel 10
Google's "Talking Phones Podcast" title card Google is having a little bit of fun in its latest iPhone vs Pixel video. While the Pixel 9 Pro takes pride of place, there's also a surprising cameo for what comes next… the Pixel 10. The Pixel 10 Easter Egg The details come at the end of Google's latest promotional video posted on its Made By Google YouTube channel. In it, an iPhone and a Pixel talk about the recent advances made by Apple's smartphone, with a not at all surprised Pixel noting when that feature arrived on Pixel and Android. These include live translation, hold assistance and call screening arriving four, five and seven years ago respectively., Of course, the capabilities of all these features have improved significantly over the last few years, so there are shades of Oranges to (ahem) Apples here, but it makes Google's point effectively. The story of Android being ahead of iOS is here for all to hear. The little easter egg at the end is part of another story, leading into the next Pixel release. The iPhone quietly asks the Pixel 9 Pro, 'so, what are you working on for Pixel 10… just out of curiosity?' Naming The Pixel 10 It's no secret that Google is working on the next family of Pixel smartphones. Neither is it a secret that we're expecting an entry-level Pixel 10, a premium Pixel 10 Pro, a larger Pixel 10 Pro XL and an innovative Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Yet this is the first time Google has publicly acknowledged that the new handsets will carry the Pixel 10 branding. Although the sharp-eared watchers will note that it was the iPhone confirming the new Pixel 10, not the Pixel 9 Pro. So, did Apple confirm the new name, rather than Google? Google is expected to announce the Pixel 10 family at an upcoming Made By Google event. While dates have not been confirmed, talk within the community picks out Wednesday, Aug. 20 for the launch, and Thursday, Aug 28. for the first handsets to go on sale to the public. Now read how the Pixel 10 will impact every Android smartphone in 2025 and beyond…
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Here's Why Jeff Bezos Only Paid Himself an $80,000 Salary From Amazon
The name Jeff Bezos is synonymous with Amazon and as a multi-billionaire. Although he's one of the richest people in the world, he's only paid himself a salary of $80,000 for around 20 years, according to the New York Times. Discover Next: Find Out: When asked why during an interview by the New York Times, Bezos said that he 'just didn't feel good about taking more' money when he 'already owned a significant amount of the company.' He said in the interview that he felt that he had 'plenty of incentive' since he owned more than 20% of Amazon and had gone down 10% since he started selling off his shares, and doesn't need any more wealth. Of course, as Amazon continues to remain profitable, his shares of Amazon keep increasing in value and are still making billions for him. Bezos isn't the only leader from a major corporation who has paid themselves a low salary. Here are a few. The Google co-founder reportedly pays himself a paltry $1 annual salary since 2004, when Google went public. He earns more from Google since Brin owns millions of Class A shares, which are used to have an ownership stake in the company. He also has thousands of Class B shares (which still have some voting rights) from the tech giant. The former CEO of Oracle has also paid himself a $1 annual salary, but owns around $90 million in stock options. Ellison also receives 'other compensation' equally, around $5 million. See Next: As the founder and former CEO of Whole Foods, he, too, earns $1 per year — it seems like a popular number. He has paid himself this amount since 2007. Due to his ownership in the grocery chain, he receives much higher compensation, not just through a salary. The co-founder and CEO of Facebook earns a higher salary than most on this list at $600,000. Yeah, that's a big number to most of us, but in comparison to other CEOs and what Facebook itself brings in, it seems small by comparison. In other words, some CEOs are getting paid multi-million-dollar salaries, while Zuckerberg is paid a fraction of that. Hayne is the president and CEO of Urban Outfitters, a fast fashion and lifestyle chain with locations all over the world. He, too, has opted for a $1 per year salary. However, he technically earns more than his base salary, as he gets a $5,000 bonus and $1 million from a non-equity incentive plan participation. What this means is that this compensation is based on Hayne's performance at his job and is not at all tied to his salary. Meaning, he could still earn a significant amount of money in his role at Urban Outfitters, but not a steady amount. More From GOBankingRates 6 Big Shakeups Coming to Social Security in 2025 This article originally appeared on Here's Why Jeff Bezos Only Paid Himself an $80,000 Salary From Amazon Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
