Google has released an update for its Google Home ecosystem that addresses a dozen issues, including widgets that were draining battery power on users' devices. The update benefits users of Gemini, Google's AI model, on speakers and connected screens, and it introduces early access to Home MCP, a new connection protocol that allows third-party AI agents, such as Claude and OpenClaw, to interact with Google Home devices and access event history. However, Google has restricted certain high-risk actions, like unlocking doors, from third-party agents to prevent unintended behaviors. In France, where Gemini for the home is available in early access, users have received several fixes. These include improvements to Gemini's Live mode, which allows for continuous voice conversations, and fixes that prevent unexpected interruptions. The update also limits unnecessary follow-up questions from the assistant, restores the ability to launch TV streaming services on connected screens, and makes the playback of personal playlists more reliable. A new feature called "broadcast" allows a household member to send a voice announcement to all speakers and screens in the home, with error messages during these announcements now removed. The Google Home app has also received several updates. In October 2022, Google released version 4.2 to improve the stability of video streams from Nest cameras. Eleven months later, the company fixed issues with the app's widgets, which were consuming too much battery power. These updates now suspend background updates when the phone screen is off and resume them upon unlocking, improving device autonomy. The app's display of camera and smoke detector thumbnails has been restored, and switching between multiple accounts is now more reliable. Other fixes include removing blocks during Wi-Fi pairing of new devices and preventing crashes when starting the Google Home experience on Google TV. Home MCP (Model Context Protocol) is a new protocol that standardizes how AI models connect to external services like Google Home. It allows third-party AI agents to query device status and event history without needing custom integrations for each assistant. However, this increased connectivity also raises security risks, which is why certain high-risk actions, like unlocking doors, are excluded. These actions require strong authentication and explicit confirmation, making them more secure. Background updates refer to widgets refreshing data without opening the app, which can drain battery by constantly using network and processing resources. Suspending these updates when the screen is off helps preserve battery life and reduces the load on devices and cloud services.