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Google is expanding its 'Gemini built in' program to include speaker reference designs, allowing third-party manufacturers to build Gemini-powered smart speakers without lengthy development cycles. The program, which previously launched cameras through Walmart's Onn brand, now provides turnkey hardware solutions for both speakers and cameras.

Google has updated Gemini for Home to remove content filters that previously blocked adult users from accessing cocktail recipes. The update also adds faster alarm setting, personalized security camera searches, and thumbs-up/down feedback buttons on smart displays.

Google's Gemini for Home voice assistant now executes smart home commands up to 1.5 seconds faster for lights and plugs, the company announced. The update also brings near-instant processing for alarms, timers, and reminders, currently available for English, French, and Spanish users.

Google Home's April 2026 update addresses Gemini voice assistant reliability issues. The update improves speech detection to reduce mid-sentence interruptions, speeds up responses to simple queries, and enhances music playlist recognition even when names are misspoken or in noisy environments.

Google is expanding Gemini for Home, its replacement for Google Assistant, to 16 new countries across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Oceania. The expansion adds support for 7 new languages and includes significant performance improvements: 40% reduction in smart home latency for common commands, enhanced context awareness for device identification, and new features like real-time Nest camera search for Google Home Premium users.