Google Forces Users to Pay $10/Month for Broken Smart Home Assistant
Google is forcing users to switch from its classic Assistant to Gemini for Home, a new service that costs $10 per month. Starting September 4, 2026, users with Android phones, tablets, and wearables will no longer have access to the classic Assistant without upgrading to Gemini.
The migration has caused problems for many users, including issues with room-based lighting commands and routines failing to trigger. Some users are receiving the 'that device does not exist' error when trying to use their smart home devices.
Google is promoting Gemini Live and Ask Home as solutions to these issues, but critics argue that this mirrors a Permission Gap scenario, where users are forced to pay for a service they previously had for free. Those who cannot meet the hardware requirements may end up with no assistant at all.
The situation also raises concerns about planned obsolescence in smart home devices. Home Assistant 2026.9 offers an alternative vision, being free, open-source, and local-first, prioritizing transparency over monetization.