Google’s $100 Home Speaker is finally available for preorder after a long delay, Ars Technica reports. The device is positioned less around audio quality and more around Gemini-powered smart-home capabilities.
The release matters because AI assistants are moving back into dedicated home hardware. If Gemini can improve voice control, context handling, and household tasks, smart speakers may become more useful than earlier assistant devices.
The product will also test whether consumers want AI features embedded in ambient hardware, not only phones and web apps.