Google unveiled new smart home devices with a generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, stepping into competition with Amazon.
On the 1st (local time), Google revealed a new lineup of smart home products under the Nest brand. The devices announced this time include two video cameras, a new doorbell, and a compact speaker with 360-degree sound, all equipped with Google's generative AI "Gemini."
Google said the new AI platform "Gemini for Home" replaces the existing Google Assistant, allowing users to converse naturally with and control their devices. Google added that Gemini will be applied to displays, speakers, cameras, and doorbells released over the past 10 years.
In a demonstration video, a user told a smart speaker the ingredients on hand to get recipe suggestions or asked to modify the recipe on the spot. Google emphasized that Gemini maintains conversational context, enabling interactions that feel like real conversations without repeated prompts.
The new cameras have double the resolution of previous models and a wider field of view. The cameras can capture at 152 degrees and the doorbell at 166 degrees, with prices starting at $100 for the cameras and $180 for the doorbell. The compact speaker will be priced at $99 and is slated for release next spring. However, many AI chatbot features will be offered as a paid service at $20 per month.
Google's announcement came right after Amazon unveiled new products in New York the day before, including Echo, Kindle, and Ring security cameras. Amazon said its devices support natural conversations through its own AI voice assistant "Alexa+."