Google Home 'Help me create' uses AI for custom automations

Google continues to work on integrating artificial intelligence into virtually all of its products and services. The company’s IoT platform, Google Home, seems like one of the best suited to tap into the power of generative AI. Google has realized that and is testing a Gemini-powered “Help me create” feature to make it easier to automate tasks in your smart home ecosystem.

“Help me create” generates AI-powered custom automations for Google Home

Google Home already lets you automate tasks on your smart home devices thanks to the Routines feature. However, “Help me create” simplifies this process by enabling you to get custom automations based on a prompt. That is, instead of having to spend extra time setting up all the detailed conditions for a certain routine, you can simply say a prompt with what you’re looking for and get an “automation recipe.”

Google says the new AI-powered feature is useful “to help you connect and control your smart home more conveniently.” You can use either prompts with concise instructions or more generic ones, leaving the “thinking” to Gemini. For example, “Turn on all lights at dusk” is a prompt with concise instructions. On the other hand, “Help me sleep better” or “Save energy while I’m away” are less detailed prompts for which Gemini will give you potential solutions in the form of custom automations.

Custom automations are distinct from your Routines, so they shouldn’t interfere with each other. Google reveals that they have three main items: “Starters,” “Conditions,” and “Actions.” The Starters represent the main triggers of the automation. The Conditions are “optional restrictions on when your automation begins,” states Google. They serve to prevent an automation from running while a restriction is present, even if the Starters are met. Lastly, the Actions are the output or effect of the automation.

Many customization possibilities; editable automations

To further enhance possibilities, each custom automation can have multiple Starters, Conditions, and Actions. When there are multiple Conditions, you can choose between two options. Firstly, you have the option to start the automation whenever any of the conditions meet. You also have the option to only execute the automation when all conditions are satisfied.

“Help me create” is available in the Google Home Public Preview version. You’ll need to enable the “experimental AI features” switch from the app to be able to use them. You’ll then find the feature from the Automations tab > Add FAB > Help me create.

Of course, you can edit the custom automations before setting them up to make them exactly what you’re looking for. Lastly, “Help me create” only supports English in its current state. There are no details yet on when Google will roll it out en masse.