Google Home Premium with Gemini AI begins rolling out, replacing Nest Aware

Google is quietly swapping out Nest Aware for something new. Users are finding Google Home Premium in their apps where the old camera subscription used to live, and the rebrand brings Gemini into the mix alongside the usual video storage perks.

The shift isn’t exactly a surprise. Back in August, leaks suggested Google was prepping to consolidate its smart home subscriptions under one roof. Now those screenshots are reality, with people posting images of the new branding in their settings. You still get your camera history and familiar features, but there’s also access to Gemini capabilities that weren’t available before.

Price-wise, nothing dramatic has changed. European users are seeing €10 monthly for the standard tier, matching what Nest Aware cost previously. Some folks trying to cancel have been offered 50% off their renewal, which tells you Google wants to keep people around during the changeover.

The Gemini angle is what’s got people talking. Early reports mention things like asking your camera where you left your backpack instead of hunting through recordings manually. Voice commands seem better at handling multiple requests in one sentence, which Google promised years ago but never quite delivered on.

Reception has been mixed, though. Plenty of Reddit users are venting about how Google’s smart home stuff has gotten worse over time, not better. Voice recognition keeps screwing up, responses are inconsistent, and some claim their camera quality has tanked. Putting AI features behind a subscription isn’t exactly winning hearts when people remember the basics working more smoothly five years ago.

The rollout looks patchy at the moment. Not everyone is seeing the new Google Home Premium option. So it’s possible that this might be a region-based gradual rollout. There’s no official word yet, but we’ll likely get more details later today, as Google is expected to announce Gemini on Google Home.

If you’re already subscribed to Nest Aware, the switch happens automatically. Your billing date stays the same, and everything transfers over without you lifting a finger. This new update also brings the much-awaited feature to delete old devices with just a few taps. So hang in there, it’s coming soon on your device too.