If you've ever found that your smart home is getting a little irritating, with the constant ping of notifications throughout the day, you'll be happy to hear that Google seems to be working on a solution. As spotted by Android Authority, the latest Google Home app version (4.0.53.2) references something called "Home Brief."
Google has already confirmed it's working on a tool that offers summaries of camera activity and other smart home alerts. The references to Home Brief could be Google laying the groundwork to roll such a feature out to its smart home ecosystem.
Details about the Home Brief feature are limited, and all we can see is that it has been mentioned in the Google Home app. However, the fact that it's listed as an intelligent security feature alongside AI notifications and descriptions suggests to me that it's something designed to work in a way that limits the number of useless notifications you get throughout the day.
Presumably, Gemini AI would be able to figure out which notifications are urgent, like package deliveries, unusual sounds and motion in the house and other things that would need your attention as soon as possible. But stuff like the fact that your neighbours won't stop talking in view of a camera as they go about their day can either wait or be ignored.
It won't be free, though
Code strings imply that Home Brief will be exclusive to people with a "Google Home Premium" subscription.
The downside is that this feature might not be free. Code strings imply that Home Brief will be exclusive to people with a "Google Home Premium" subscription. Which is hardly ideal for those of us who are tired of having to subscribe to everything.
References to this subscription have been spotted before, and Android Authority believes it's a rebranded version of the $10 a month Nest Aware subscription. No word on pricing, but there does appear to be references to a free trial in the code as well.
The Premium subscription also seems to unlock features like Gemini Live and Ask Home, suggesting that Google will be going big on AI features in the Home ecosystem. Which might be needed, since we already know Amazon has some major device and services news to share later today, and that will almost certainly feature a bunch of news about how AI is going to play into things.
There's no word on when Home Brief and other AI features might make it to Google Home, but the fact that Gemini will start taking over from Google Assistant tomorrow (October 1) has me hoping that it won't take too long.
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News, or add us as a preferred source, to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
