Google Home is launching a new feature called “suggested automations.” This will recommend pre-made smart home routines, making it easier for newcomers to set up their connected devices.
What Are Suggested Automations?
In smart home apps, automations are preset rules that let your devices perform actions automatically. For instance, lights can turn off when you leave, or the thermostat can lower at bedtime. The challenge has always been that users need to know what’s possible and navigate through menus to set up these rules themselves.
With Google Home’s new feature, that hassle is gone. Instead of starting from scratch, the app now suggests ready-to-use routines based on the devices you already have. It’s like a recipe app that only shows you meals you can actually prepare with the ingredients in your fridge.
According to Android Authority, suggested automations appear directly in the Google Home app. Users can easily grab a routine and activate it with minimal setup. This feature aims to assist those who bought a smart bulb or a Nest thermostat but never got around to making their devices work together.
Why This Is a Bigger Deal Than It Sounds
The smart home market struggles with a significant drop-off problem. Many people own at least one smart home device, but a large number only use it to manually turn things on and off through an app. That’s not much different from using a regular light switch.
The core benefit of a smart home lies in automation: devices that respond to your schedule, location, or conditions like sunrise and sunset. Without that automation, the “smart” aspect is mostly just a marketing term.
Google is recognizing that its previous automation tools were too complicated for casual users. Creating a custom automation in Google Home required understanding triggers (what starts the automation), actions (what happens as a result), and sometimes even scripting for more complex setups. Suggested automations simplify this into a browse-and-tap experience.
Who This Helps Most
This feature targets Google Home users with a Nest Hub and a few smart plugs who haven’t explored the Automations tab. For seasoned smart home users with established routines, the impact will be minimal.
The timing is also strategic. Amazon’s Alexa has offered suggested routines for years. Apple Home has been promoting easier automation through its Shortcuts integration. Google is addressing a usability gap that its competitors have already tackled.
| Alphabet / Google — Company Snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Ticker | GOOGL |
| Stock Price | $343.88 (-2.99%) |
| CEO | Sundar Pichai |
| Headquarters | Mountain View, CA |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Sector | Big Tech |
What This Means
If you have Google Home-compatible devices and haven’t explored the automation settings, this update is worth checking out. The next time you open the Google Home app, look for a suggestions section. It will show routines tailored to your specific setup. You might find a “good morning” routine that turns on lights at your usual wake-up time or a security automation that activates cameras when everyone leaves.
Even if the suggestions aren’t perfect, browsing them helps you understand what’s possible before creating your own routines.
For anyone still unsure about smart home devices, features like this make it easier to see the value in investing in hardware.
Community Reactions
“Finally. I’ve had a Nest thermostat for two years and never set up a single automation because I didn’t know where to start. This is what the app needed.”
“Alexa has had this forever. Better late than never, I guess, but Google is playing catchup on their own platform.”
What To Watch
- Rollout timing: The feature is rolling out now, but staged releases mean not everyone will see it right away. Check your Google Home app in the coming days.
- Depth of suggestions: It’s unclear how many suggested automations Google will offer at launch and how often new ones will be added, especially as the company expands its compatibility with Matter, the new smart home connectivity standard.
- AI integration: Google has been incorporating AI features across its products. A logical next step would be automations suggested based on your usage patterns, similar to how Google Assistant learns your routines over time.
- Competitor response: Amazon and Apple are likely to introduce their own usability improvements to keep up.
Daniel Park
Daniel Park covers AI, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise software for Explosion.com. A former software engineer who transitioned to technology journalism 5 years ago, Daniel brings technical depth to his reporting on artificial intelligence, startup funding rounds, and the companies building the future of computing. He breaks down complex AI developments and business strategies into clear, actionable insights for readers who want to understand how technology is reshaping industries.
