New Google smart display could arrive soon – Automated Home

Google’s smart home strategy is entering a new phase, one powered by Gemini. Over the past few weeks, Google has made it clear that its AI assistant is taking center stage across the Home ecosystem, from speakers to security cameras. But there’s still one missing piece: a new smart display.

After years of silence on the Nest Hub lineup, Google has finally confirmed that a new generation of smart displays is in the works. While no release date has been set, recent comments from Google executives suggest we won’t have to wait long to see it.

So what can we expect from Google’s next smart display and how will Gemini redefine what a smart screen can do? Let’s take a closer look.

Google breaks its silence

It’s been over four years since Google released the Nest Hub (2nd Gen) and even longer since the debut of the Nest Hub Max in 2019. For months, rumors swirled that Google might be walking away from the smart display category altogether.

But during a recent appearance on The Vergecast, Anish Kattukaran, Google Home’s vice president of product management, made it clear that’s not the case.

“I think smart displays are going to be an awesome form factor for Gemini,” Kattukaran said. “We’re definitely committed to that category and will have more to share soon.” He added that both the Nest Hub Max and the second-generation Nest Hub will receive Gemini updates, including Gemini Live, a new conversational mode that makes interactions more natural and context-aware.

However, Google has not confirmed whether the original Nest Hub will support the full Gemini Live experience, likely due to its older hardware.

A form factor made for Gemini

Kattukaran described smart displays as the “ultimate form factor” for AI-powered homes. “You think about the properties of a smart display: a microphone for audio input, a speaker for output, a screen to visualize information, and cameras that add a vision piece to it,” he said. “It’s everything Gemini needs to deliver a truly great home experience.”

That’s the heart of Google’s renewed interest. Unlike traditional assistants, Gemini can process multimodal data, voice, visuals, and contextual cues simultaneously. Smart displays combine all those inputs into one device, creating a seamless way to interact with an AI that understands what it sees, hears, and says.

In essence, Gemini transforms the smart display from a digital photo frame or music hub into a true household companion capable of reading body language, recognizing faces, understanding objects in view, and providing dynamic responses based on what’s happening around you.

Check out the entire podcast of The Vergecast with Anish Kattukaran, Google Home’s vice president of product management:

The competition is heating up

Google’s timing is crucial. Amazon just launched its next-generation Echo Show lineup with new AZ3 Pro processors and local AI processing via its Alexa Plus assistant. These devices process data on-device, improving privacy and responsiveness.

By comparison, Google’s Nest Hub models from 2021 are showing their age. Their older hardware, even with software updates, can’t fully handle the real-time demands of Gemini’s multimodal capabilities.

The Soli radar sensor was a bold innovation in 2019, but it’s no match for the new edge computing tech now found in Amazon’s Echo Shows.

A new identity for Google’s smart home

Interestingly, Google seems to be phasing out the “Nest” name for future smart home products. The next generation of displays may simply be called the “Google Home Hub,” signaling a shift toward a unified ecosystem centered around Gemini rather than the fragmented branding of the past.

This move aligns with how Google is positioning Gemini as a single, all-encompassing AI assistant that spans smartphones, PCs, and home devices. A “Google Home Hub” powered by Gemini would mark the start of a new hardware era that blends ambient computing with personal AI.

Gemini’s arrival across the ecosystem

Google isn’t waiting for the new display to roll out Gemini. As of October 28, early access to Gemini for Home is live in the U.S. across existing speakers and displays. Users who’ve joined the early access program can now try Gemini as the new voice interface on devices like the Nest Audio, Nest Mini (2nd Gen), and Nest Hub (2nd Gen).

This update effectively replaces Google Assistant, bringing a more conversational, personality-rich experience. Gemini Live, available through the Home Premium plan ($10 per month or included with Google’s AI Pro/Ultra subscriptions), enables two-way conversation without wake words something that feels more natural and human.

To check if your device has received the update, simply say, “OK Google, who are you?” If it replies “I’m Gemini,” the transition is complete.

Why AI makes smart displays relevant again

For years, smart displays struggled to find a killer use case beyond serving as digital frames or recipe helpers. But AI could change that entirely. With Gemini’s multi-modal intelligence, a smart display can now interpret context in ways older assistants never could.

Imagine a kitchen display that recognizes you as you walk in, reads your facial expression, and offers to continue your podcast, pull up your morning calendar, or suggest recipes based on what’s on the counter. Or a display in your living room that identifies guests, dims the lights, and queues up personalized music all autonomously.

This fusion of vision, language, and environmental awareness represents a new frontier for ambient computing, turning the display into something that anticipates needs rather than merely responds to commands.

A response to user criticism

Google’s recommitment to smart displays also follows a year of user frustration. Many felt the company had neglected its Home ecosystem while pivoting toward Gemini. In July, Kattukaran publicly apologized for reliability issues, promising a “long-term solution” for better stability and support.

The rollout of Gemini across devices appears to be that solution. Beyond more natural interactions, Gemini for Home brings better multitasking, improved device control, and new voices, 10 in total, designed to sound more human and emotionally responsive.

What’s next for Google’s smart home

Industry observers expect Google to reveal its new smart display before the 2025 holiday season. That timeline would allow the company to counter Amazon’s AI hardware push and reestablish itself as a serious contender in the connected home market.

The device will likely serve as a hub for Gemini-powered routines, with tighter integration between cameras, thermostats, and smart lighting. It may also debut with local processing capabilities to match Amazon’s new Echo Shows, improving speed and privacy.

As Kattukaran hinted, this isn’t just a product refresh; it’s a reinvention of the smart display concept. The next Google smart display won’t just show you information; it will understand and act on it.

The bottom line

Google’s upcoming smart display isn’t simply about catching up; it’s about redefining what a smart display can be in the age of AI. With Gemini’s multimodal intelligence, the device promises to merge visual, auditory, and contextual understanding in a way that feels almost human.

If done right, it could turn the smart display into the centerpiece of Google’s entire smart home ecosystem, a true command hub for ambient, AI-driven living. While we’re still waiting on the official reveal, one thing is clear: Google isn’t done with smart displays. It’s preparing to make them smarter than ever.

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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.