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Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Technology
Amanda Caswell

Google teases Gemini-powered Nest Cam — big reveal coming Oct. 1

Gemini is coming to Google Home announcement graphic.

Gemini is having a moment. Nano Banana broke the internet and the Gemini app surpassed ChatGPT for more downloads in the app store, now the company is gearing up for a big smart home reveal.

With an official teaser posted on X, the company revealed that on October 1st, 'Gemini for Home' will officially roll out. What's to come is still just rumors for now, but based on the video's clues, we could see a refreshed Nest Cam (one of the best home security cameras), a revamped smart speaker and possible an upgraded video doorbell with Gemini AI at the center of it all.

This really feels like Google’s chance to finally close the gap between “smart” home gear and genuinely intelligent, interactive home environments. Here’s what we’ve gleaned so far, and what I’m especially excited to see.

What we know

Launch date confirmed: Google teased that more details are coming October 1. That includes both “Gemini for Home” (the software/AI side) and new hardware.

AI will replace Google Assistant (eventually): Gemini is expected to be at the heart of home devices, eventually taking over Google Assistant across all home devices for a smarter control and with natural language.

Updated camera hardware: The teaser shows a Nest Cam that visually looks a lot like current models, but we are due for a resolution upgrade (hopefully to 2K or higher) and perhaps better sensors or processing.

New Nest Doorbell likely: Alongside the camera, a new Doorbell is rumored. We could possible see improvements in image quality and perhaps even deeper integration with Gemini features.

A Nest speaker upgrade: No official word yet, but it just makes sense that we would see a new Nest speaker (or similar audio device) that could act as a hub/controller for the Gemini smart home experience.

What I’m watching closely

(Image credit: Google)
  • What new capabilities will Gemini bring? Things like better detection (e.g. recognizing people vs pets), more intuitive voice commands (contextual, conversational) or seamless interoperability across devices will make this upgrade a notable one.
  • Will Gemini’s AI enable local processing (so your home IoT setup doesn’t need to offload everything to the cloud)? That could make a big difference in latency, privacy and reliability.
  • How significantly will the design change? If the new Nest Cam looks just like the old one, the biggest gains might be internal (sensors, AI, software), not exterior.
  • Integration with existing Nest/Home users: Will current devices get software updates to support aspects of Gemini? Or will everything require new hardware?

What to expect in October

With just a little over a week left in September, we won't have to wait long for Google to formally unveil the upgrades. I'll be keeping an eye out for pricing and availability as much as new hardware features.

We’ll also likely get more clarity on which existing devices will be compatible with Gemini and whether there will be subscription tiers (for example, for advanced AI features or enhanced cloud services).

For users who want smarter, more responsive home devices, this could be a turning point. Fingers crossed that this update is worth the wait. And if you know me, you already know I already can't wait to do a faceoff with Alexa+.

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