Google will now let any AI agent run your smart home
News Source
β’2026-09-16T13:00:00-04:00
π° What Happened
Google is letting outside AI agents into its smart home system. A new feature called Home MCP lets tools like Claude and Open Claw control devices and read your home's data.
You could ask an agent what your child did when they got home, or how many loads of laundry you ran last week. Agents can build custom dashboards and send voice messages through your speakers.
The feature starts with Google Home Premium Advanced users in the US, who pay $20 a month or $200 a year.
π The Backstory
MCP stands for Model Context Protocol, a shared standard that lets AI tools connect to other software. Home Assistant, an open-source smart home platform, already uses a similar setup.
Google opened API access to its smart home in 2024 and later made Gemini for Home a full AI product. Google Assistant is being retired.
Opening up real devices raises safety questions. Google says it blocks some actions, such as unlocking doors, and warns that agents may still behave in unexpected ways.
π― Why It Matters
Your lights, locks and heating would answer to an AI tool. The convenience is real, but so is the risk if the agent makes a wrong call.
Google is letting outside AI agents into its smart home system. A new feature called Home MCP lets tools like Claude and Open Claw control devices and read your home's data.
You could ask an agent what your child did when they got home, or how many loads of laundry you ran last week. Agents can build custom dashboards and send voice messages through your speakers.
The feature starts with Google Home Premium Advanced users in the US, who pay $20 a month or $200 a year.
MCP stands for Model Context Protocol, a shared standard that lets AI tools connect to other software. Home Assistant, an open-source smart home platform, already uses a similar setup.
Google opened API access to its smart home in 2024 and later made Gemini for Home a full AI product. Google Assistant is being retired.
Opening up real devices raises safety questions. Google says it blocks some actions, such as unlocking doors, and warns that agents may still behave in unexpected ways.
Your lights, locks and heating would answer to an AI tool. The convenience is real, but so is the risk if the agent makes a wrong call.