Google's Next Smart Speaker Is All About AI

Whether by accident or as a covert tease, Google showed a glimmer of what Google smart speakers have in store. This week, during Google’s annual Pixel hardware event, a never-before-seen speaker slipped into a prerecorded video, and now Android Headlines says it’s confirmed that said speaker is, in fact, of the Google Home variety.

Android Headlines says it has seen additional images of the speaker, which will come in four colors, including Obsidian, Porcelain, Jade, and an unnamed red color. Just like the video sneak peek suggests, Android Headlines says the speaker will look akin to a slightly squatter Apple HomePod Mini, which is to say cylindrical and covered in mesh.

Speaking of the HomePod, Android Headlines also reports that you’ll be able to pair the new speaker to Google TV Streamer, similar to how you can set up two of Apple’s smart speakers for surround sound via Apple’s streaming box. Like many other speakers, there will reportedly be a light around the bottom that illuminates when the microphone is activated.

The biggest change (hopefully) will be the switch from Google Assistant to Gemini, though. Google already announced Gemini for Home this week, which will bring more advanced AI capabilities to its smart home ecosystem.

I say “hopefully” in this case, given recent issues with Google Home. Last month, Google Home users reported en masse that the app was bordering on broken—some people were unable to even turn their lights on and off or access their Nest security cameras. Google acknowledged those issues publicly, but it didn’t stop the threat of a class-action lawsuit from bubbling up.

That’s all to say that Google Home and Google’s reputation as a reliable purveyor of smart home software and hardware is in jeopardy now more than ever, and, if a Gemini-powered speaker is a shot in the arm like Google hopes, it could help save some face.

We’ll get a chance to see just what Google has in store on the smart home front fairly soon. It plans to release Gemini for Home in October, and while there’s no solid release date for its next-gen speaker, there’s also a chance that it could release its new hardware at the same time. If a dose of Gemini means we all get to spend less time screaming at a piece of plastic to turn our lights on and off, then I’m going to call it a major win.