Gemini Colors Illuminate Nest Audio as Google Assistant Upgrade Rolls Out

Summary Since December, Google has been testing a Gemini-powered upgrade for the Google Assistant on some Nest speakers. Recently, Nest Audio users enrolled in the Google Home Public Preview and with 'Experimental AI features' enabled have noticed that the four circular lights now display Gemini’s blue and purple color scheme when issuing commands and receiving responses. This change is part of an update to the Cast firmware version 3.75.468348.

The appearance of Gemini colors on Nest Audio devices raises questions about Google's branding strategy. Last August, Google announced that it would use 'Gemini models' to enhance Assistant but referred to the upgraded experience as 'Google Assistant.' However, at CES 2025, Google confirmed that the Assistant on Android and Google TV would be powered by Gemini models, and they have begun referring to this experience as 'Gemini on Google TV.'

It appears increasingly likely that Nest speakers and smart displays will also transition to using the Gemini branding. While 'Google Assistant' is a familiar name, unifying under the Gemini brand could be beneficial for consistency across different devices.