Google Home upgrades to Gemini 3.1 for multi-step voice commands
Google has upgraded its Home smart assistant to Gemini 3.1, enabling users to combine multiple tasks in a single voice command. The update follows last month's improvements to natural language understanding and comes after reports of accuracy issues in the smart home platform.
Google Home upgrades to Gemini 3.1 for multi-step voice commands
Google has upgraded Gemini for Home to version 3.1, adding support for complex, multi-step tasks within a single voice command. The update, announced May 5, 2026, marks the second major improvement to Google's smart home assistant in consecutive months.
What's new in Gemini 3.1
According to Google, the 3.1 upgrade improves the assistant's ability to interpret and act on requests that combine multiple tasks. The update also enhances handling of recurring and all-day calendar events, with new functionality to "move around" upcoming events.
The upgrade follows an April update that improved natural language understanding and device identification accuracy. Both updates address reported issues with Google's smart home assistant, including confusion between different animals in camera footage and inaccurate activity summaries.
Additional platform updates
Google announced several other improvements alongside the Gemini upgrade:
- Ask Home on Web: A public preview allowing users to manage smart home devices from a computer, including natural language searches of camera history and automation creation
- Enhanced notifications: A public preview of expanded notifications with "quick action" buttons for direct device control
- Camera improvements: Unspecified enhancements to the camera experience
- New automation capabilities: Additional automation features, details not disclosed
What this means
The rapid iteration on Gemini for Home suggests Google is responding to early adopter feedback and competitive pressure from other AI-powered smart home platforms. The ability to chain multiple commands addresses a common limitation in voice assistants, though Google has not provided technical details about how Gemini 3.1 achieves this compared to the previous version. The web-based management interface also signals Google's recognition that voice isn't always the optimal control method for complex smart home setups.
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