Google renames most of its new Gemini-Assistant voices for Nest [Video]

Back in June, Google introduced three new voices for the upcoming Gemini-Assistant revamp for the Nest Mini and Audio. Ahead of launch, Google has renamed most of them, but they otherwise appear to be the same.

These are the name changes to Gemini-Google Assistant voices if you’re in the Public Preview program:

OldNewDescriptionAloeBloomCalm • Mid-range voiceOxalisBright • Mid-range voiceFernBright Warm • Higher voiceVerbenaMagnoliaCalm • Deeper voiceIvyVioletBritish accent • Mid-range voiceJadePothosEngaging • Mid-range voiceEucalyptusCalatheaAustralian Accent • Higher voiceYarrowWarm • Deeper voiceCrotonSmooth • Deeper voicePileaAmaryllisBright • Higher voice

Six of the 10 voices have been renamed. They remain botanically themed, with “Violet” having a better connotation than (poison) “Ivy.”

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Similarly, people are probably more familiar with “Magnolia” than “Verbena. That said, I’d think “Eucalyptus” has higher awareness than “Calathea.”

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There is one change to the description with “Fern” now offering a “Warm” voice instead of “Bright.” To my ear, all the voices sound the same, and you can listen to both sets.

Last week, Google teased “major improvements” for Google Assistant in light of reliability complaints. This is most likely in reference to Gemini replacing Google Assistant. Beyond the switch to an LLM approach, it seems increasingly likely that the Assistant branding will go away entirely. For a moment, it seemed that Google was keeping around that brand for Home devices, but that changed now that “Gemini” is coming to Google TV instead of a Google Assistant upgraded with the Gemini models.

These upgrades are said to be coming “in the fall” after public-facing testing began last year.

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