In terms of managing a smart home, Google’s throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks. The latest update to the Google Home app finally tackles something that should have been obvious from day one: letting you control who sees what in your smart house.
Google introduced granular access controls that split users into Admin and Member roles. Admins get the full package—device management, automation setup, presence settings, and the power to invite new users. Members? They get exactly what you give them, nothing more. It’s about time someone figured out that not everyone needs nuclear launch codes to turn on the living room lights.
Finally, smart home access controls that don’t assume everyone needs master-level permissions to flip a light switch.
The Member role simplifies sharing control with family, roommates, and that one guest who somehow always ends up staying longer than expected. Admins can now restrict who adds or removes devices, shares data, or sets up automations. No more surprise disco lights at 3 AM because someone thought they were being helpful.
Beyond access controls, Google’s streamlined the entire experience. Device setup got easier, and the app now supports an even wider range of gadgets through Matter compatibility. You can organize everything by rooms, create customizable Favorites for quick access, and set up automations in fewer steps than before. This interoperability is crucial as protocol fragmentation continues to complicate the smart home landscape for average users.
The presence sensing feature uses phone location to trigger automations based on who’s home. Additionally, Soli sensors in the Nest Learning Thermostat 4th gen and second-gen Nest Hub enhance automation through human presence detection. Currently in public preview on Android in the US only, because apparently the rest of us aren’t ready for such groundbreaking technology.
Safety features got some love too. Carbon monoxide monitoring integrates directly into the app for Nest Protect users, while camera reviews became faster for finding security events. Picture-in-picture support for Nest cameras on Google TVs means you can watch your front door while binge-watching shows. The update comes with Version 3.33 now widely available after being in public preview since December 2024.
The company’s also rolling out Gemini Home AI features gradually. The AI interprets complex voice commands and executes cross-device actions, though it’s still in limited testing. Google’s basically promising a future where your house understands you better than your spouse does.
Whether that’s terrifying or convenient depends entirely on your perspective.
