In an exciting announcement, Anish Kattukaran, the head of Google Home, unveiled a series of updates aimed at enhancing the smart home experience by addressing a range of persistent issues. Among these updates, a standout feature is the introduction of “Live Search” for cameras, a game-changer for users seeking real-time awareness of their surroundings.

With Live Search, Google’s Gemini can now interpret live camera feeds, a significant leap from merely processing past events. This feature empowers users to query live scenarios, such as asking, “Hey Google, is there a car in the driveway?” However, access to Live Search requires a subscription to the Advanced plan of Google Home Premium, priced at $20 per month or $200 annually.

Additionally, Gemini for Home is receiving upgraded models, enhancing its ability to deliver more accurate responses to general queries and improving its performance in handling requests related to newly released songs.

Another notable improvement is Gemini’s enhanced contextual understanding, which refines its capability to manage smart devices. For instance, when users say “turn off the kitchen,” the system now precisely targets the kitchen lights rather than all devices within that space. Furthermore, commands like “turn off all the lights” will now apply specifically to the user’s current location, avoiding unintended actions at other locations such as a secondary residence or a family member’s home.