Observe ZDNET: Add us as a most popular supply on Google.
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Google teased an unknown speaker eventually week’s occasion.
- Speaker could pair with Google TV Streamer, extra units due.
- No announcement but, first sensible speaker since 2020.
The 2025 Made by Google occasion featured some well-known stars and extremely anticipated units, however one second caught my eye greater than others. An overproduced video confirmed System 1 driver Lando Norris on a comfy sofa speaking to Gemini, showcasing what the voice assistant with generative AI can do to exchange Google Assistant. To his proper, a steel facet desk held a single factor: an unknown sensible speaker via which Norris communicated with Gemini.
I instantly searched Google to search out out if there have been any leaks for a brand new sensible speaker I had missed, but I could not discover something. Google completed its Pixel 10 launch occasion with out a lot as a point out of a brand new speaker. The spherical speaker’s look within the video was dealt with like a glitch or a slip of the tongue, with nobody addressing its surprising presence.
Gemini-powered Google House speaker
Days later, stories confirmed that Google plans to launch what sources name a Google House Speaker, powered by Gemini as a substitute of Assistant. The speaker will reportedly work very like a Nest speaker, of which Google hasn’t launched a brand new mannequin in 5 years, with some up to date options.
Within the video, the brand new speaker appears to be like like a barely flattened Echo Dot, with a band alongside the bottom that lit up blue when Norris interacted with Gemini. Like an Echo speaker, it seems to be lined in material, and sources say will probably be out there in 4 colours: white, vivid purple, mild inexperienced, and black.
The House Speaker will reportedly assist Matter and might be paired with a Google TV Streamer to behave as an exterior audio output. In the identical method, you possibly can pair a HomePod or HomePod mini with the Apple TV 4K, and pair two of those audio system for richer stereo sound.
Just like the Apple and Amazon sensible audio system, the brand new Google speaker is alleged to function sound detection for smoke alarms and glass breaking, so it could possibly notify you if it hears these sounds. Echo audio system solely do that for those who pay for Alexa Emergency Help or a Ring subscription, however the HomePod consists of it with the speaker. It is unclear whether or not the sort of sound detection on the brand new Google speaker would require a subscription.
Gemini for House rolling out this fall
Google additionally introduced Gemini for House, formally changing Google Assistant in Google House. This replace is anticipated to roll out in an early entry part in October, so the sensible speaker might be introduced round that point, until Google decides to attend till the spring. In its press launch, Google indicated that Gemini for House could have a free and a paid tier, although it did not specify what every would come with.
In response to the identical supply, different new sensible dwelling units are coming quickly. Google is reportedly planning a brand new Nest Indoor Cam, Nest Out of doors Cam, and Nest Doorbell. Every will function Every day Summaries, which use Gemini to recap the day’s occasions within the Google House app. The cameras will assist 2K decision and can be out there in a number of colours.
Google has been gradual to launch new sensible dwelling units in recent times, primarily as a result of a lot of its merchandise are future-proof and nonetheless work nicely years later. This prompted rumors that Google could have been eliminating the Nest model altogether, although these leaks appear to dispel these. If the sensible speaker is launched this 12 months, it would be the primary one to come back out because the Nest Audio in late 2020.





