Gemini in Google Home Shows Brilliance, But Stumbles with Basic Tasks
Google’s rollout of its Gemini Pro model to Google Home devices has revealed a mixed bag of notable capabilities and frustrating limitations. While users are reporting remarkably smart responses to complex queries, the AI assistant is also struggling with surprisingly simple requests, raising questions about the consistency of the new integration.
The update, which began rolling out november 6, 2025, aims to bring Gemini’s advanced reasoning and multimodal understanding to Google’s smart speaker and display ecosystem. This integration promises a more conversational and helpful smart home experience, but early reports indicate the performance is uneven. Users have demonstrated Gemini successfully composing emails, summarizing articles, and even brainstorming ideas – tasks previously beyond the reach of Google Assistant. However, others have shared instances of Gemini failing to set basic timers, misinterpreting simple commands, or providing nonsensical answers to straightforward questions.
9to5Google first reported on the rollout, noting the upgrade brings gemini Pro to users who opted into the Gemini experience within the Google app. The integration is currently available in the US, Canada, and the UK, with plans for wider availability in the coming months.
The inconsistency highlights the challenges of deploying large language models in real-world applications. While Gemini excels at complex reasoning, its performance on everyday tasks appears to be less reliable, potentially hindering its usability for many users. Google has not yet commented on the reported issues, but is likely monitoring user feedback and working to refine the integration.
More Top Stories
From the rest of 9to5
9to5Mac: Rumor Replay: iPhone 18 Pro colors, iOS 27, iPhone Air 2, more
9to5Toys: Official Walmart early Black Friday deals and prices leak online in new sneak peek ad
Electrek: Tesla updates its electric semi truck design
Follow Ben: Twitter/X, Threads, Bluesky, and Instagram
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
