The transition to Gemini on my Google smart speakers has been largely positive. It’s a responsive and capable system, expertly managing smart home controls, delivering detailed weather updates, and answering questions with impressive clarity. Initial impressions are strong, hinting at a powerful new era for Google’s smart devices.
However, a surprisingly useful feature from the Google Assistant days is now missing: Continued Conversation. This allowed the Assistant to remain briefly attentive after an initial response, anticipating follow-up questions without the need to constantly repeat the “Hey Google” wake word.
Continued Conversation was a subtle but significant convenience. Asking about the weather could seamlessly lead to inquiries about rain chances or the forecast for the week, all within a natural, flowing dialogue. It eliminated the robotic repetition that often plagued interactions with voice assistants.
As Gemini for Home gradually replaces Google Assistant, Google promises to retain core functionality, even for those without a Google Home Premium subscription. The rollout is accelerating, with invites being distributed to those requesting access, signaling a broader shift in the smart home landscape.
Despite these assurances, Continued Conversation hasn’t made the transition. This omission hasn’t gone unnoticed, and I’ve reached out to Google for clarification on its absence. It’s a curious decision, given the feature’s popularity and utility.
Currently, achieving a similar conversational flow with Gemini requires activating Gemini Live mode, a feature locked behind a Google Home Premium subscription starting at $10 per month. Without it, every question demands the preceding “Hey Google,” creating a noticeably less fluid experience.
The result is a stilted exchange: “Hey Google, what’s the weather? Hey Google, will it rain tonight? Hey Google, what’s the weather tomorrow?” The constant repetition feels counterintuitive to the promise of a truly intelligent assistant.
While Continued Conversation remains functional with the traditional Google Assistant, switching to Gemini for Home is a one-way street. Once you embrace Gemini, that seamless conversational ability is lost unless you upgrade to the premium subscription.
Is this a dealbreaker? Not necessarily. Gemini for Home offers compelling new capabilities, and a more comprehensive evaluation is underway. However, the return to repetitive wake words feels like an unexpected step backward in user experience.
The constant need to preface each query with “Hey Google” disrupts the natural rhythm of conversation, a subtle but frustrating change. It highlights the importance of seemingly small features in creating a truly intuitive and enjoyable smart home experience.
