On Wednesday, Google informed Google Home users and developers that it would extend smart home compatibility to AI agents beyond its proprietary Gemini AI. According to the company’s statement, «any agent that supports calling [Model Context Protocol technology] tools can now interact with all of the devices and event history in the Google Home ecosystem.»
The announcement explicitly identifies Anthropic’s Claude, the open-source AI agents OpenClaw and Hermes, and the Google Antigravity coding platform as upcoming options compatible with Google Home.
Google previously launched a version of its AI, dubbed Gemini for Home, to serve as a voice assistant and controller for all smart devices connectable to the Google Home app, such as smart lights, smart heaters, home security cameras, and smart thermostats.
Now, leveraging Model Context Protocol technology that previously enabled AI users to integrate agents into Google Workspace, Google will start rolling out support for additional AIs within Google Home. This means you could, for instance, use the voice mode in your Claude AI agent to adjust your thermostat, configure other automations, and access data that Gemini for Home might not offer independently.
Google states that AIs will be capable of executing more sophisticated Google Home tasks, such as generating text summaries from security camera footage, as well as utilizing personalized dashboards for home control in place of the standard Google Home interface.
As of Wednesday, this functionality has started rolling out, but exclusively to Google Home Premium Advanced subscribers in the US, requiring a $20 monthly fee for access. Since it’s an early access release, it may contain bugs or limitations. Google is urging users to submit feedback through its smart home developers’ support channel.
A Google spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
I’m keen to see whether Claude and the other agents prove more accurate and useful than Gemini for Home, which has its fair share of issues. In my experience, Gemini for Home doesn’t consistently interpret complex commands as intended, or fails to operate devices that are connected and ready. There’s clearly room for improvement, and opening the platform to other AI agents could drive that progress.
The flexibility of AIs like OpenClaw could also enable users to create more advanced automations, such as linking thermostat adjustments to highly specific local weather data — suffice to say, I’m very curious to see what innovations users will develop.
However, I’m skeptical about the advantages of building your own customized dashboard and control center using AIs like Claude. I’ve experimented with similar smart home dashboards before and found them underwhelming. They remain somewhat clunky, prone to errors, don’t always function as advertised, and are challenging to troubleshoot due to the vibe coding involved. Google invests heavily in designing a user-friendly interface with dependable settings and commands, which remains the optimal choice for the average user without highly unique home automation needs.
Google Home Isn’t the Pioneer, But It’s the Largest
Google Home isn’t the sole platform providing this AI support, though it’s the first among the big three — Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home — to introduce anything of this nature.
For several years, the open-source platform Home Assistant has functioned as the primary gateway for users incorporating advanced AI like OpenClaw and Claude into their homes. Supported by a comprehensive library of setup guides, the platform appeals directly to privacy-conscious and technically adept homeowners who favor local control over cloud-reliant alternatives.
While software constitutes the foundation of these configurations, hardware ecosystems have rapidly evolved to bridge the gap. Universal hubs like those from Homey simplify the integration process, providing plug-and-play compatibility for diverse devices. Device manufacturers such as SwitchBot are actively expanding this ecosystem by developing proprietary hubs that allow their smart hardware to communicate natively with OpenClaw.
However, if you prefer to use Google Home with its existing smart device support and automations, this marks the first time you can add an additional layer of control via a third-party AI.
Collectively, these evolving software and hardware landscapes reflect a broader consumer trend toward highly customizable, AI-driven home automation.
Third-Party AI in Homes Also Introduces Risks
I’d recommend caution when integrating an AI like Claude with your home system. Google’s MCP support incorporates safeguards that Google can enforce when permitting AI systems to operate within its ecosystem. However, expanding that access also introduces new variables, and fresh vulnerabilities could potentially emerge.
One concern is prompt injection, sometimes called smart home promptware. These attacks can conceal malicious AI instructions within seemingly harmless emails or calendar events, potentially enabling an attacker to control home devices without the user’s awareness. Google faced similar issues in early Gemini versions, though the vulnerabilities were promptly patched. Introducing additional AI systems into the mix could create more opportunities for such vulnerabilities to surface.
