For the first time in about two years, Google is releasing two new smart home devices and said it is bringing advanced AI features to Google Home and Google Assistant.

Google’s announcement is highlighted by the Google TV Streamer, a new Nest Learning Thermostat, and new AI features designed to make Nest cameras, Google Home and Google Assistant speakers smarter. These new products and features have been the subject of rumors for months, and they’re now a reality as Google attempts to inject some excitement into its smart home category.

Google: TV Streamer to Replace Chromecast Device

Rumors of the Google TV Streamer began circulating earlier last month on leaks that Google was planning on releasing a set-top box streaming device as a revamp of Chromecast, the company’s legacy media streaming device. Google has confirmed now that the Google TV Streamer will replace the Chromecast.

The streamer, the company says, brings next-generation 4K TV streaming in a faster, more premium version of the Chromecast. The device appears to be a direct competitor to the Apple TV 4K streaming device, offering users access to more than 700,000 movies and shows through streaming apps like Netflix, Disney, Apple TV and others. The device also includes more than 800 free live TV channels.

Google has even managed to wedge its generative AI tool Gemini into the device, with it giving users full summaries, reviews and breakdowns of content to make it easier for users to find something to watch.

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Like Chromecast, the device can be also connected to Wi-Fi, but the Google TV Streamer also features an ethernet port for faster speeds. It also offers an improved processor and 32GB of storage, double that of its predecessor. The device also offers 4K HDR, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos in what Google calls a “giant leap” in performance over the Chromecast,

Google TV Streamer Doubles as Smart Home Hub, Art Piece

Beyond streaming, the device also doubles as a smart home hub for Google Home and Matter devices.

The Google TV Streamer also has support for Matter and a built-in Thread border router in a move that further solidifies company’s investment in its smart home business. In addition, the Google TV Steamer features the Google Home panel so users can check their smart home devices from their TV.

Picking up on a growing trend in home entertainment and a similar feature in Chromecast devices, users will also be able to turn an idle TV into a piece of art. Google says users only need to use their voice to invoke Gemini to pull up memories from Google Photos.

The Google TV Streamer comes in either porcelain or hazel colors and is designed to be tucked between the TV and a media console. The accompanying voice remote has also been redesigned, allowing for quick access to controls. Users can also ask Google Assistant devices like speakers or a phone to help find a lost remote to make the remote chime. A button on the back of the Streamer or on the Google Home app can also invoke the chime.

The Google TV Steamer is now available for pre-order and will be generally available on Sept. 24 for $99.99.

New Nest Thermostat Taps into Procedural AI Learning

Another popular Google smart home device, the Nest Learning Thermostat, is also getting a makeover with the fourth-generation device being released for $279.99 in the U.S. beginning on Aug. 20. This comes following a recent update it made to its Nest Doorbells, which added Home support to first generation wired Nest doorbell models.

The company calls the new Matter-certified thermostat, which comes with a redesigned Nest Temperature Sensor in the box, its “smartest and most beautiful” yet.

Nearly every aspect of the new Nest Learning Thermostat has been redesigned, including a sleek profile that creates a floating illusion, a new customizable home screen and LCD display that is 60% larger than its predecessor, and a new clicking sound when the bangle is rotated.

While the thermostat’s redesign does include aesthetic improvements and new silver, obsidian and gold finishes, it’s the advanced AI features that make it stand out from previous models. The thermostat uses AI to make micro-adjustments based on user patterns, but it is now faster and more accurate when creating energy-saving schedules.

The Smart Schedule feature helps the thermostat learn which temperatures users choose most often, or changes in behavior based on motion detected in the home. For example, coming home from work earlier will trigger and automatic adjustment in the schedule. Homeowners can use the Google Home app to accept or reject these suggestions.

The new Nest Learning Thermostat will also use outdoor weather conditions to help inform indoor climate controls, like pausing heating on a sunny winter day when a home may benefit from natural sunlight.

The new thermostat also comes with a new Nest Temperature Sensor that can help users manage hot and cold spots in their home. Six sensors can be added to manage temperatures in different rooms.

In addition to an HVAC monitoring feature designed to alert users to potential issues, the Nest Learning Thermostat now includes an intelligent ventilation feature that brings in fresh air when outdoor air quality is healthy and pauses ventilation when outdoor air quality is poor. Users can also enroll in Nest Renew to make automatic small adjustments that shifts energy use to cleaner and less expensive times.

Gemini AI Assistant Being Added to Google’s Smart Home Line

Ever since Google announced new, advanced generative AI tools like Bard and Gemini, it’s been a waiting game for the company to introduce those tools to the home. Now, the company is finally bringing Gemini to its smart home line, making its cameras and Google Home experiences more intelligent.

“With Gemini multimodal models that can process video, images and text we’re now able to redefine camera intelligence for the industry,” the company writes in a blog post. “Over time, your Nest cameras will go from understanding a narrow set of specific things (i.e., motion, people, packages, etc.) to being able to more broadly understand what it sees and hears, and then surface what’s most important.”

New AI descriptions will help inform users that Nest cameras or doorbells didn’t only detect an animal, but that it was a dog digging in the yard, for example.

A new camera activity search feature in the Google Home app allows users to prompt Gemeni’s generative AI technology to find what they’re looking for in the home.

“For example, ‘Did the kids leave their bikes in the driveway?’ Google Home can search through your camera history, giving you a list of only the relevant events and a helpful summary. That simply wasn’t possible before. The sky’s the limit for what you can ask, ‘Did the FedEx truck drive by today?’ or ‘Did my dog go near the cookies?’ This will be a monumental shift for Nest cameras and will transform how you get help in your home. And we do all of this while ensuring your data is safe and private, consistent with our principles.”

Gemini Helps Revamp Script Generation for Custom Smart Home Automations

Google has previewed generative AI tools designed to help users create smart home automations, but Google appears to be re-focusing on this feature with a new “Help me create” feature in Google Home. Users describe the automation they want in plain language and Google Home sets up the automation. These AI features will be rolled out to a limited number of Nest Aware subscribers who are in Public Preview later this year, and availability will expand over time.

In a move that many Google Home users will appreciate, Google is bringing Gemini’s AI power to Google Assistant to make interacting with smart speakers more natural and conversational. The assistant will also have a selection of new voices.

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