Google Assistant | The Verge The Verge is about technology and how it makes us feel. Founded in 2011, we offer our audience everything from breaking news to reviews to award-winning features and investigations, on our site, in video, and in podcasts. 2026-01-27T10:32:35+00:00 https://www.theverge.com/rss/google-assistant/index.xml https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/verge-rss-large_80b47e.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1 Stevie Bonifield <![CDATA[Google will settle its Assistant spying lawsuit for $68 million]]> https://www.theverge.com/?p=868078 2026-01-27T05:32:35-05:00 2026-01-26T14:45:53-05:00

Google could owe you some money, now that it's moving to settle a class action lawsuit over how it handled recordings captured when its devices were activated by something other than Google Assistant's actual trigger word, "Ok Google." German outlet VRT NWS's 2019 report exposed the issue, and court filings from last Friday say the proposed settlement number is $68 million, as reported previously by Reuters.

The lawsuit accuses Google of "unlawful and intentional recording of individuals' confidential communications without their consent," during these "False Accepts." VRT NWS reported that human workers who analyzed Assistant audio clips …

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]]> Jennifer Pattison Tuohy <![CDATA[How AI broke the smart home in 2025 ]]> https://www.theverge.com/?p=845958 2025-12-25T12:04:41-05:00 2025-12-23T08:30:00-05:00

This morning, I asked my Alexa-enabled Bosch coffee machine to make me a coffee. Instead of running my routine, it told me it couldn't do that. Ever since I upgraded to Alexa Plus, Amazon's generative-AI-powered voice assistant, it has failed to reliably run my coffee routine, coming up with a different excuse almost every time I ask.

It's 2025, and AI still can't reliably control my smart home. I'm beginning to wonder if it ever will.

The potential for generative AI and large language models to take the complexity out of the smart home, making it easier to set up, use, and manage connected devices, is compelling. So is the promise of a " …

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]]> Jennifer Pattison Tuohy <![CDATA[Camera support could be the boost Matter needs]]> https://www.theverge.com/?p=821707 2025-11-20T12:37:40-05:00 2025-11-20T08:00:00-05:00 Smart home cameras on a purple background
The Matter smart home standard is adding cameras to its latest spec.

It's finally happening. Three years after Matter launched, the interoperability standard now includes the most popular smart home devices: cameras.

The Matter 1.5 spec, announced today, adds support for all types of video cameras - from indoor and outdoor, wired and battery-powered cameras, to video doorbells, baby monitors, pet cams, and more. Matter support should be possible with an OTA update, so some of your existing cameras could become Matter-compatible. The new spec also adds garage door controllers, soil sensors, bi-directional charging for EVs, and more advanced integration with utilities for energy management.

So far, cameras ha …

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]]> Jennifer Pattison Tuohy <![CDATA[Google says its confusing Gemini Home rollout is going just great]]> https://www.theverge.com/?p=817668 2025-11-10T15:02:57-05:00 2025-11-10T15:02:57-05:00
Gemini is the new smart home voice assistant slowly rolling out to Google’s smart displays and smart speakers.

Google started rolling out its new Gemini voice assistant for its smart speakers two weeks ago and, in a blog post marking the anniversary, the company seems to think everything is going great. It's even quoting a user who said, "My Google Home just got upgraded with Gemini. It's actually useful now beyond asking for today's weather." That's some not-so-subtle shade right there.

But dig into the post's FAQ, and things don't look so rosy. Two of the most frequently asked questions from those who have the new assistant are:

  • Gemini for Home voice assistant is not fully understanding my query… (Example: I tried to set an alarm for 5pm but it …

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]]> Jennifer Pattison Tuohy <![CDATA[Hands-free home security is here, thanks to ADT and Google — but it’ll cost you]]> https://www.theverge.com/?p=803867 2025-10-23T12:47:38-04:00 2025-10-23T08:00:00-04:00 A white hub on a sideboard in a home.
The base is the hub of the ADT Plus system.

My front door unlocks automatically as I walk up to it, and the home security system disarms itself - no code or app required. The system has recognized me using the Google Nest Doorbell's Familiar Faces, and confirmed I'm me using my phone's location. The dual-factor authentication triggers the automatic disarming and unlocking, so all I have to do is walk inside.

This hands-free Auto Unlock experience is powered by ADT Plus, the newest security system from America's oldest security company. It features the usual hardware - a base, sensors, and various accessories - but represents a major upgrade from fumbling for keys or racing to silence …

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]]> Jennifer Pattison Tuohy <![CDATA[The problems with AI in the smart home]]> https://www.theverge.com/?p=796138 2025-10-08T18:24:34-04:00 2025-10-08T12:00:00-04:00

Last week, Amazon and Google kick-started what could be the next chapter of the smart home. Their new voice assistants, Alexa Plus and Gemini for Home, have been rebuilt from the ground up on generative AI and large language models to be more conversational, understand context, and take actions. This marks the biggest shift in home control since the companies launched their original smart speakers over a decade ago.

In the years since, smart home adoption has stalled - because it's complicated and confusing, and the value isn't always clear. Google and Amazon are betting on this new wave of AI-powered intelligence to deliver a smarter, simp …

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]]> Jennifer Pattison Tuohy <![CDATA[Google hints at a new Nest Hub]]> https://www.theverge.com/?p=794298 2025-10-07T17:31:07-04:00 2025-10-07T10:04:14-04:00 Two smart displays on a table with a red background.
Google says it’s committed to the smart display category, meaning we may see new versions of its Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max “soon.”

Last week, Google announced a new smart speaker for its AI-infused Gemini smart home platform, but there was no sign of a new smart display. The good news for fans of Google's Nest Hubs is that Google Home's Anish Kattukaran tells The Verge the company is "definitely committed to smart displays," and that they'll "have news to share there soon."

"It feels like almost the ultimate form factor to be able to deliver a really great home experience"

In an interview on The Vergecast this week, Kattukaran explained that smart displays are very much part of Google's plans. "[The smart display] does present itself as an incredible form factor to …

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]]> Jennifer Pattison Tuohy <![CDATA[I tried Amazon and Google’s new smart home gadgets, ask me anything!]]> https://www.theverge.com/?p=790817 2025-12-04T15:11:29-05:00 2025-10-03T09:03:07-04:00 An illustration of a woman surrounded by two smart speakers on a blue background
The Verge’s senior reviewer, Jen Tuohy, is taking your questions about Amazon and Google’s new devices.

Hi! I'm Jennifer Pattison Tuohy (aka Jen), The Verge's smart home reviewer. I just spent the last week in New York City checking out the new smart displays, smart speakers, smart voice assistants, and smart security cameras launched by Amazon and Google. I haven't tested any of them yet, but I've had some hands-on time with the new gadgets and spoken with folks at both companies about the new features.

I'm hosting a subscriber-only AMA on the site today, Friday, October 3rd. Just ask your questions in the comments on this post, and my editor, Nathan Edwards, and I will join you here at 1 PM ET to answer as many as we can.

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]]> Jennifer Pattison Tuohy <![CDATA[Walmart’s Onn cameras were developed with Google and start at just $23]]> https://www.theverge.com/?p=787179 2025-10-01T12:29:23-04:00 2025-10-01T09:00:00-04:00 Two cameras and two video doorbells on a table.
Walmart is now making smart home security cameras.

Walmart is adding cameras to its in-house tech brand Onn, and these low-cost gadgets were designed and built to work with Google Home and its new Gemini features. The $22.96 Onn Indoor camera and $49.86 Onn Video Doorbell launch today, October 1st, at Walmart.

Both cameras work with the Google Home app for setup and streaming live and recorded video. According to Walmart spokesperson Leigh Stidham, out of the box, you get 3 hours of snapshots (still images), person and motion detection, and sound detection (including dog barks and people talking). For video storage and smart alerts, you need to subscribe to Google Home Premium (formerly Nes …

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]]> Jennifer Pattison Tuohy <![CDATA[Google’s Home Speaker looks and sounds better — but you can’t get it yet]]> https://www.theverge.com/?p=788085 2025-10-01T11:30:08-04:00 2025-10-01T09:00:00-04:00 A red smart speaker being held by a hand.
The Google Home Speaker comes in four shades, including this bright berry red, which matches Google’s new Nest Cam.

Google is finally launching a new smart speaker, and it's a complete redesign. The new Google Home Speaker features a new flattened sphere shape, new colors, a new light ring, and lots of new AI-powered features.

Announced this week, along with a major Gemini-infused update to its Google Home smart home platform, the speaker will also run the new Gemini voice assistant instead of Google Assistant. It won't be available until spring 2026, but I got an early look in New York City last week.

Ditching the Nest moniker of its predecessors - the Nest Mini and Nest Audio - the Google Home Speaker features an entirely new design. At $99.99, it's …

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