Google's Gemini-Powered Home Speaker Finally Ships June 29

Google's new $99 Google Home Speaker is finally getting a ship date. The Gemini-powered smart speaker lands on June 29, a full nine months after the company first revealed it.

The device is purpose-built around Gemini for Home, Google's conversational AI assistant designed specifically for smart home control. It doubles as a Matter controller, meaning it can communicate with a wide range of smart home devices across different ecosystems.

The Matter integration is notable. As the cross-platform smart home standard continues gaining traction, having a dedicated controller baked into a $99 speaker makes the barrier to entry pretty low.

The long gap between announcement and availability raised eyebrows, but Google appears ready to deliver. At that price point with Gemini baked in, it's a clear play to make AI-driven home control mainstream.