Google finally brought Continuous Chat to Gemini for Google Nest devices, so you can stop repeating “Hey Google” to keep the conversation going.
Amazon charges $20 for this feature
While the ability to carry on a conversation without prompting the AI to eavesdrop is already available through Gemini Live, it’s nice to see the feature coming to Google’s smart home device. That’s mainly because rival Alexa+ offers smart AI features and seamless conversations, but at a price. You only get Continuous Conversation on Alexa devices if you have Alexa+, which is available through a Prime membership or by spending $19.99 per month.
I’ve had an Alexa Dot 4th generation since 2021, so I can vouch for how annoying it is to say “Alexa” every time. There’s a tracking feature, sure, but it creates more problems instead of solving them. Moreover, it was simply a way of making another request with little or no retention of the context of the current conversation. Since the Continuous Chat enhancements on older devices like mine are locked behind a paid subscription, Google’s decision to bring Gemini Live to their smart home device for free is great for those who already have Google Nest speakers.
For those unfamiliar, Continuous Chats keep the assistant listening for a few seconds so you can make the next request to Gemini. The device’s lights will continue to flicker or blink until the assistant stops listening. The new update will also improve Continuous Conversations, making interactions better, more natural, and better context-preserving. This feature is now available in all supported languages and regions, not just English.
How to set up Continuous Chat on Google Nest speakers
Google’s latest release is not a default feature introduction. It needs to be activated for it to work on Google Nest devices. Go to the Google Home app to enable Continuous Chat. Go to Home Settings, select Twins for Home voice assistant, and select Continuous Chat.
Source: Google
