Google Teases New Nest Hub with Gemini AI
▼ Summary
– Google’s head of Home confirmed the Nest Hub is not dead but provided no explicit news about new models.
– Anish Kattukaran stated Google remains committed to smart displays and expects to share news in the future.
– He believes smart displays are an ideal form factor for interacting with Gemini due to their microphone, speaker, and screen capabilities.
– Google will continue investing in the smart display category to enhance the home experience with Gemini integration.
– Current Nest Hub models from 2018, 2021, and the Nest Hub Max are still supported and will receive Gemini features.
While Google has remained quiet about specific launch dates, the company has officially confirmed its ongoing commitment to the Nest Hub line, strongly hinting that new smart display models are actively in development. Anish Kattukaran, Google’s head of Home, recently addressed the future of these devices, making it clear that although no explicit announcements are ready, the category is far from abandoned.
During a recent podcast appearance, Kattukaran was questioned about the apparent lack of new smart display news, especially following the introduction of a new smart speaker designed for Gemini. He immediately tempered expectations by stating no concrete details would be shared just yet. However, his subsequent comments painted a very optimistic picture for the product line’s future. He firmly stated that Google is “definitely committed to smart displays” and that consumers should “definitely expect that we’ll have news to share there.”
Kattukaran expressed significant enthusiasm for the potential of smart displays, particularly as a platform for advanced AI. He explained that the convergence of large language model (LLM) technologies makes the smart display an ideal form factor for interacting with a system like Gemini for Home. He highlighted the device’s core features, a microphone for audio input, a speaker for audio output, and a screen for visual information, as creating a powerful, multi-modal interface. He described the smart display as potentially “the ultimate form factor” for delivering a superior home experience, which is why Google plans to continue its investment in the category.
The original Nest Hub, initially named the Home Hub, debuted in 2018. It was followed by a second-generation model in 2021. The Nest Hub Max also arrived, offering a larger screen, improved audio, and an integrated camera that could function as a Nest Cam. All three of these existing devices continue to receive support and are slated to gain Gemini AI features. Despite this ongoing support, the timeline and Kattukaran’s clear excitement suggest that a new hardware iteration is on the horizon, designed to better leverage the capabilities of Google’s most advanced AI.
(Source: 9to5 Google)
