GOOGLE EXPANDS GEMINI LIVE TO OLDER SMART HOME DEVICES

Google has expanded Gemini Live to first-generation Google Home Mini speakers and the original Nest Hub smart display. The rollout began on 23 July as part of Gemini for Home early access upgrades. Access to Gemini Live requires a Google Home Premium subscription, which costs £8 per month in the UK. Users enrolled in the early access programme can activate the feature by saying "Hey Google, let's chat" to their devices.

Gemini Live was previously available only on newer models including the Nest Mini, Nest Audio, Nest Hub, and Nest Hub Max, which received the feature in October 2025. The new Google Home Speaker launched with Gemini Live built in. Alongside the expansion, Google increased Gemini's conversation memory window from its previous duration to 15 minutes, allowing the chatbot to understand context when users ask follow-up questions about topics discussed within that timeframe.

The move extends access to Google's AI chatbot to owners of older hardware, though the paywall requirement means existing device owners must purchase a subscription tier beyond the standard Google Home service. The expansion represents Google's continued effort to integrate Gemini across its smart home ecosystem, though older device owners will not gain this capability without paying the monthly premium.