Google has unveiled Google Home Premium, a subscription service that replaces the existing Nest Aware, integrating advanced AI capabilities to enhance the smart home experience. This new service is available in two tiers: Standard and Advanced, each offering a range of features designed to provide users with comprehensive control and monitoring of their smart home devices.
Standard Tier:
Priced at $10 per month or $100 annually, the Standard tier offers:
– Event-Based Video History: Access to 30 days of event-based video recordings from compatible cameras and doorbells.
– Whole-Home History: A consolidated view of activities across all connected devices within the Google Home app.
– Intelligent Alerts: Notifications for recognized faces, package deliveries, and garage door activities.
– Sound Detection: Detection of specific sounds such as glass breaking or smoke alarms through speakers and displays.
– Emergency Calling: Quick access to emergency services directly from the app.
– Gemini Live Access: Integration with Gemini Live on speakers and displays, enabling advanced AI interactions.
– Help Me Create: A conversational tool to assist in generating automations for smart home devices.
Notably, the Standard tier is included with the $19.99/month Google AI Pro subscription, which provides access to Gemini 2.5 Pro and additional features.
Advanced Tier:
For users seeking more extensive features, the Advanced tier is available at $20 per month or $200 annually, offering:
– Extended Video History: 60 days of event-based video history and up to 10 days of continuous 24/7 video recording.
– AI-Powered Video Search: Utilization of Gemini’s capabilities to perform complex, conversational searches within video history.
– Detailed Event Descriptions: Comprehensive summaries of events captured by cameras and doorbells.
– Home Briefs: Daily summaries providing an overview of household activities.
Subscribers to Google AI Pro can upgrade to the Advanced tier for an additional $10 per month. Alternatively, the Advanced tier is included with the $249.99/month Google AI Ultra plan.
Integration with Google One:
In a strategic move, Google has integrated Google Home Premium with its Google One subscription service. This integration aims to provide users with a unified experience, combining cloud storage solutions with advanced smart home functionalities. The inclusion of Google Home Premium in Google One subscriptions reflects Google’s commitment to offering comprehensive and cohesive services to its users.
Redesigned Google Home App:
Accompanying the launch of Google Home Premium is a significant redesign of the Google Home app. The updated app features an Ask Home search bar, enabling users to describe desired automations or search through video and home history using natural language. This redesign emphasizes a more intuitive and user-friendly interface, aligning with Google’s focus on integrating AI to enhance user experiences.
Conclusion:
The introduction of Google Home Premium marks a pivotal advancement in Google’s smart home offerings. By integrating AI capabilities through Gemini and offering flexible subscription tiers, Google aims to provide users with a more intelligent, responsive, and comprehensive smart home experience. The inclusion of Google Home Premium in Google One subscriptions further underscores Google’s strategy to unify its services, delivering added value to its users.
