Google is accelerating the rollout of Gemini for Home, making it easier for people in the US to try out the company’s next-generation smart home assistant.
Previously, the early access program was limited to a small number of testers, but starting December 10, anyone with a U.S. household address can request access and receive an invitation within 24 hours.
In a post on the Google Nest community forums, the company said it will “start sending invitations faster,” marking the biggest expansion yet in Gemini’s smart home journey. To participate, users simply open the Google Home app, tap their profile picture, go to Home settings, and select Early Access.
This program is separate from the Google Home public preview, which traditionally handled early functional testing. Gemini for Home appears to have been on its own slow path to replacing Google Assistant across Google’s smart speakers and displays. That change is now accelerating.
All Google Home or Nest speakers released since 2016 include Gemini, but support varies. The full experience, including Gemini Live, is available on devices like Nest Hub (2nd generation), Nest Audio, Nest Mini (2nd generation), and Nest Hub Max. Older speakers, such as the original Google Home, Home Mini, and the original Nest Hub, only come in basic versions without Live functionality.
One of the bigger surprises was that Google confirmed that Gemini will also replace the Assistant on third-party hardware. These devices lost official Assistant support in 2023, but will continue to receive Gemini for Home updates once they become available.
If you’re waiting for access, Google recommends revisiting your app. Some early testers may already have invitations saved in their home settings. Once Gemini is running on your device, you can provide feedback by saying “Hey Google, send feedback” or by checking the known issues thread.
For users in the US who have been curious to see what Gemini can do for their smart homes, this is the easiest entry point yet, and a clear sign that Google is ready to move forward with the transition.
