Some Google Assistant users notice a new voice across Home and Nest devices

If you’re noticing that Google Assistant sounds a little…different lately, you’re not alone. Across social media, forums, and community hubs, reports from the UK, US, Canada, and Australia are pouring in about Assistant’s new voice. Back August, Google hinted that the Gemini language model would soon power a more natural, conversational Google Assistant on devices like Nest displays and speakers, and it seems this update may have just started hitting devices in an unexpected way.

From upbeat and expressive to borderline spooky, the feedback has been a mixed bag of surprise, intrigue, and outright confusion. Some users report a smoother, friendlier voice that feels almost human. “The woman on my assistant sounds more expressive and natural. Was there an update?” one user asked. In stark contrast, others reported their assistant’s “gradually slower and deeper” voice sounding “passive-aggressive” and unnerving enough to prompt suspicions of a Halloween prank.

The change seems to be happening in the UK, where users are adjusting to everything from mispronunciations of local place names to the assistant’s oddly posh or American-accented delivery. “UK voice is trashed,” one exasperated user said, describing new pronunciations like “Wel-win” for “Welwyn Garden City.” And the quirks don’t stop there. The assistant’s deeper voice, especially in responses like reading the weather or sharing reminders, has taken on a tone some users find unsettling. “She sounds disappointed all the time,” noted one commenter, “like a dorky librarian.” Another UK-based user remarked that their assistant had become “happier and more upbeat,” describing Google Assistant as a bit more human.

While some are distracted by the voice changes, other users are noticing subtle improvements in function. Google Assistant seems snappier and more efficient for certain tasks, such as controlling smart lights or setting up routines. “Feels much more reliable,” a user posted, noting that the assistant no longer hesitates when asked to control multiple devices.

For better or worse, some of the assistant’s improvements may indeed be thanks to Google’s Gemini AI. In August, Google announced plans to make Assistant more natural by enabling it to “chat more naturally” and better understand complex or conversational questions. The integration was intended to bring a more human-like response to Google’s home devices — from Nest speakers to Hubs — and potentially lay the groundwork for deeper conversational AI interactions.

Google has been quiet on these recent developments, which raises the question: is this an official rollout or simply a live beta test in select regions? Some users feel like they’re part of a Gemini experiment. “Same all over Ireland, they’ve turned us all into alpha testers,” joked one user. With gradual reports coming in from around the world, it seems that Google may indeed be incrementally releasing this Assistant upgrade, slowly tweaking the new voice in real time.

So, is this Gemini’s doing? It’s hard to say for sure. Google has yet to confirm any official updates to the Assistant’s voice. But if the change is indeed powered by Gemini, it’s possible we’re only seeing the beginning of an entirely new phase in AI-assisted smart homes.