Google Home Users Are Trying to Hack Their Way to a Better Voice Assistant (gizmodo.com)

Google Home users are eagerly trying to bypass the wait for Google's new Gemini-powered upgrade, Gemini for Home, which is currently in early access. Rising impatience has led some users to experiment with a workaround involving a simple URL input—“googlehome://assistant/voice/setup”—in Chrome, which reportedly allows them limited access to the new features. However, results have been mixed, with some users only obtaining updated voices without the full functionality of the enhanced assistant. This surge of experimentation highlights a significant dissatisfaction with the existing Google Assistant experience and a strong desire for more advanced capabilities. The Gemini for Home update promises to revolutionize the smart home experience by enabling more intuitive voice commands, such as searching Nest camera history using natural language and fine-tuning device control. The broader implication suggests that the AI/ML community must respond to consumer frustrations with innovative upgrades, as users are clearly hungry for a new and improved version of smart assistants that fulfill their expectations.