Smart speakers have long struggled to find their true purpose beyond mere home entertainment. Google’s latest offering, the Home Speaker, does much to improve upon previous models but faltering AI performance continues to be a hurdle.

The device boasts appealing design and impressive sound quality for its size, making it an attractive addition to any home. However, its assistant, Gemini, remains slow and unreliable, frustrating users who hoped for smarter interactions.

Despite these shortcomings, the Home Speaker excels as a smart home controller, particularly with support for Matter and Thread. Its ability to pair with the Google TV Streamer also marks an upgrade in functionality. Yet, integration issues with audio output and streaming services can be a drawback.

The AI world is moving forward, but perhaps it’s time to ensure our technological helpers are as dependable as they are sophisticated. Until then, smart speakers might just remain a step above the typical home appliance.