Google has updated Gemini for Google Home so that adult users asking about cocktail recipes no longer receive a refusal from the AI assistant. Previously, asking a Google smart home device such as the Nest Hub for a margarita recipe could return a message stating the assistant could not provide recipes for alcoholic beverages.
According to Engadget, Google has now updated its safeguards to prevent adult users from running into filters that were originally designed for younger users. Adults will "now experience improved availability for general queries, including recipes for age-gated beverages," the company said in the Google Home support page.
Users who find Gemini still refusing to answer cocktail-related questions are advised to check their Parental Control settings and their Gemini for Home response filter settings inside the Google Home app. The update does not remove parental controls entirely but rather adjusts who those filters apply to by default.
The cocktail fix is part of a broader set of changes Google rolled out for Gemini on Home devices. The company also added thumbs-up and thumbs-down buttons that appear on smart displays following most voice interactions. Google says the feedback will help it identify areas where the assistant needs improvement.
Personalization has also been expanded. If a user tells Gemini the name of their nanny, for example, the assistant can search security camera footage for that person's face when asked whether they have arrived. A new feature called Home Brief allows users to ask Gemini for a recap of activity that occurred while they were away.
Response speed has improved as well, particularly for alarm-setting commands. Google says the update reduces wait times and cuts down on how often users need to repeat themselves when setting alarms through the assistant.
