Overview

• Google says the new AI assistant will gradually take over Nest speakers and displays, keeping the “Hey Google” wake phrase as it rolls out.
• Pricing and which capabilities land in the paid tier have not been disclosed, though Google confirmed both free and subscription versions.
• Gemini Live is included for sustained back-and-forth conversations without repeating the wake phrase, launched by saying, “Hey Google, let’s chat.”
• The assistant can handle multi-step, context-rich requests, improve media discovery by description, and more easily manage calendars, lists, and timers.
• Coverage notes a brief tease of an unannounced Google speaker and frames the move as a direct response to Amazon’s Alexa Plus, with a phased deployment given safety and reliability concerns.