Google Home now lets you give the keys to your smart home to any AI agent you please

Published Sep 16, 2026, 1:34 PM EDT Simon is a Computer Science BSc graduate who has been writing about technology since 2014, and using Windows machines since 3.1. After working for an indie game studio and acting as the family's go-to technician for all computer issues, he found his passion for writing and decided to use his skill set to write about all things tech. Since beginning his writing career, he has written for many different publications such as WorldStart, Listverse, and MakeTechEasier. However, after finding his home at MakeUseOf in February 2019, he would eventually move on to its sister site, XDA, to bring the latest and greatest in Windows, Linux, and DIY electronics. Sign in to your XDA account Summary Google Home now lets third-party AI agents via MCP control devices and access event history. Assistant/Gemini stays the default in the Home app and Nest speakers; you can’t change that. Feature requires Google Home Premium Advanced subscription — $20/month or $200/year. Which AI do you trust the most with your smart home? If you have a preference as to which AI model you'd like to control your devices, but you're annoyed that your Google Home won't let you pick the one you want, you'll be pleased to know that's changing. The search engine giant has confirmed that it's allowing your AI of choice to control your smart home. Google Home now lets your favorite third-party AI agent into your devices It's still keeping Assistant around as the default, though As reported by The Verge, Google is opening up the Home ecosystem to AI agents that can work with its Model Context Protocol (MCP). This allows a third-party AI agent to "inspect home structures, monitor device states, execute control actions, and analyze historical events," which sounds fantastic for someone who wants to give their favorite LLM the digital keys to their home. Taylor Lehman, the group product manager at Google Home & Nest, says that this new feature "allows any AI agents that support MCP, including Google Antigravity, Claude, Hermes, or OpenClaw, to securely work with all of the devices and event history in your Google Home ecosystem." So, if you've always wanted to set up Claude to automate your home, now you can. There are just two caveats: first, you can't change the AI agent that interfaces with Google Home via the Home app or the Google Nest speakers. Those still rely on Gemini for Home, and you can't adjust that. Second, you do need to be a Google Home Premium Advanced user, which clocks in at a cool $20 a month or $200 a year. But if you're okay with both of those, you can now let your fave AI agents take control of your smart home. Do with that knowledge as you will.