Gemini can trigger smart home routines based on what your cameras see. Google is updating Gemini for Home, the version of its AI assistant for smart homes, with new camera-based automations, reliability improvements and an updated version of the Google Home app. Gemini for Home launched in early access in October 2025, and has replaced Google Assistant on Google's smart home cameras, speakers, doorbells and displays. At I/O 2026, Google expanded its Google Home Gemini built-in program to make it easier for companies to make compatible cameras and speakers. That focus on cameras wasn't a coincidence; the biggest change the company is rolling out now is the ability to use Gemini to create automations triggered by what your cameras see.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. The '80/20 ChatGPT prompt is the fastest way to learn anything Use the 80/20 prompt technique to get up to speed in minutes. We've all been there--that moment when you realize you're in way over your head. For me, it happened during my first briefing with a smart light vendor, when it became painfully obvious that I couldn't tell a standard A19 bulb from a BR30 can light. Clearly I needed help, fast.

The answer may already be in your home. To achieve a smart home, you need a voice assistant to run it. A smart home assistant, usually folded into a smart speaker, will let you command your smart home with your voice and run your various routines. It also acts as a center for every gadget you want to add to your home. And you can add almost anything these days, from smart garage control to even voice-commanding your blinds .

The feature is rolling out for all the smart home program's supported languages and regions. Google announced today that it is upgrading the Gemini for Home service with a continued conversations feature. Continued conversation allows a user to have a natural discussion with the Gemini platform without prefacing every follow-up request with the Hey Google prompt. The microphone will remain active on a smart device for a few seconds after the Gemini AI assistant provides its reply. During that window, the lights on the hardware will pulse or glow, indicating that you can keep chatting normally with the chatbot without needing a wake word.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. The TP-Link Tapo S505 smart light switch is on sale at Amazon. Grab this 2-pack for just $20 while the deal lasts. My smart home life became so much better once I swapped out my old light switches for Tapo ones. The benefits were many, including that I no longer had to get off the couch to turn off the lights--great in the winter when I was already cozy under the blankets!

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Amazon's Echo Spot speaker gets its first discount this year: 38% off You can get the Echo Spot for just $50 (was $80) right now, close to the best price it's ever been. We're days away from Amazon's Big Spring Sale event and we're already seeing some impressive discounts, especially for the company's own Echo line. For instance, the Echo Spot is down to $50 (was $80). That's the first time it's gone on sale this year and just a few bucks away from its best-ever price.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Amazon's Echo Dot Max just got its best discount yet (25% off) It's the newest model of the Echo Dot and it can be yours for just $75 (was $100) right now with this limited-time Amazon deal. Amazon's newest smart speaker, the Echo Dot Max, has just gone on sale for the best price it's had so far. The latest model of the Echo Dot, this one's a bit larger and a lot louder than previous iterations, plus it now features a new chip that's perfectly optimized for the Alexa Plus AI assistant. In this way, the speaker ensures an effortless experience across all major streaming platforms.

Aqara's Matter-compatible camera promises easier smart home integration The company says it's the first Matter-certified camera. Smart home company Aqara has launched what it says is the first camera certified for Matter, the open source standard that enables interoperability across brands, like Google and Amazon. The Aqara G350 is an indoor security cam that also functions as a Zigbee and Matter hub in the Aqara Home app, which means the camera will enable you to control various devices across smart home protocols from different brands within one location. The camera itself comes with a 4K wide-angle and a 2.5K telephoto lens, providing both panoramic and closeup views. It also has 9x hybrid zoom and a pan-tilt mechanism that can give you 360-degree coverage of the room it's in.

The code of implementation is available in https://github.com/UHIF/PID_AGD.

The emergence of the Internet-of-Things (IoT) sheds light on applying the machine teaching (MT) algorithms for online personalized education on home devices.