For its selection of Nest devices for your home, Google is introducing improved presence sensing. In other words, Google Home is no longer completely dependent on smart home devices like thermostats to determine your proximity.
Some Google Home Devices Can Detect When Someone Is Around Your House
In order to better track activity in your home and enable automated actions, Google Home's optional presence sensing capability may now connect with Nest speakers and smart displays.
Improved presence sensing on Nest devices? Yes, please. ✨
— Made by Google (@madebygoogle) September 23, 2022
Now, when you opt in to the feature, your Nest speakers and displays can better detect your presence via voice or touch and automate actions based on whether you're home or not.
Learn more: https://t.co/nOVgQzqcWj pic.twitter.com/RM1bQplGUS
Users will have the option to enable improved presence sensing for each device in their house. According to Made By Google's tweet, enabling this new function would enable your Nest speakers or displays to recognize your voice or touch to detect your presence, according to a news report by Android Central.
However, the tech giant claimed that "Nest cameras, Nest doorbells, and Nest Hub Max won't switch devices in your home between Home and Away modes."
Google said that detection is entirely opt-in and that background noise will not set off presence cues.
Some queries about this update were also answered via the Made By Google Twitter account. It said that it could be used with all of their products, regardless of generation.
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How Some Google Home Products Can Use the Update
Nest Guard uses its motion sensor to inform you if somebody is moving nearby. Additionally, it will track if the alarm system was turned on or off using Nest Tag, the Nest app, or a password.
Google can turn on the lights if you speak to your Nest Audio or tap your Nest Hub. The Soli radar sensor on second-generation Nest Hubs can also be used to detect your proximity.
Meanwhile, devices like the Nest Mini can identify people's presence through touch and assistant commands.
On Oct. 6, there will be a MadeByGoogle fall event where we should hear more about the next Nest devices.
How Useful Is This Google Home Feature
Up until now, you had to use your phone's location in tandem with a Nest Thermostat (using the occupancy sensor/Soli or if you physically change the temperature), Nest Guard (motion sensor and arm/disarm state), Nest Protect (occupancy sensor), or Nest x Yale smart lock ("optical sensor detects if the bolt is open or closed"), according to Engadget and 9to5Google.
However, these devices have limitations. For instance, you might shut the door when someone is still at home.
Especially in particular circumstances, Google's smart home automation system might be more dependable with the usage of speakers and displays. Presence detection is now much more practical thanks to the update.
How to Enable Presence Sensing Using Google Home App
You can follow these steps to enable presence sensing in the Google Home app for Android and iOS:
Open the Google Home app.
Select Settings.
Choose Presence sensing under Features.
Decide which device you want to enable the presence detection feature.
