• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Google is tweaking how its Gemini-powered Assistant sounds—at least by name. The company has renamed most of the new voices introduced in June for Nest Mini and Nest Audio as part of its Gemini Assistant upgrade. While the voices themselves haven’t really changed, many of their names now feel more familiar or user-friendly.

Voice Names Get a Makeover

For users enrolled in the Public Preview program, six out of the ten available voice names have been updated. The naming refresh continues Google’s botanical theme but leans into terms that are more easily recognisable. For example, “Ivy” is now called “Violet,” offering what seems to be a warmer, more approachable vibe. Similarly, “Verbena” has become “Magnolia,” and “Calathea” has been swapped out for the more widely known “Eucalyptus.”

ALSO READ: E-Aadhaar Set To Go Nationwide By End Of 2025 With QR Code Verification

Descriptions tied to the voices are mostly unchanged, with just one notable shift: the voice previously labelled “Fern” now has a “Warm” tone instead of “Bright.” Despite the name changes, users report that the actual voices still sound much the same, and Google continues to let users sample and compare them for themselves.

Assistant Branding May Be on Its Way Out

The renaming effort also hints at a broader transformation of Google’s voice assistant ecosystem. While Google originally kept the “Google Assistant” branding on its Home devices even as Gemini rolled out elsewhere, that strategy appears to be evolving. With Gemini now coming to Google TV and replacing legacy Assistant features, a full rebrand may be on the horizon.

In fact, the company recently previewed some behind-the-scenes improvements focused on fixing long-standing reliability issues. These updates are expected to roll out in the fall, possibly marking the beginning of the end for the “Google Assistant” name as we know it.

Gemini’s Deep Think Expands

Beyond voice changes, Google has also launched a new feature called Deep Think inside the Gemini app. Available exclusively to Google AI Ultra subscribers, this tool represents part of Gemini’s high-level AI offering.

Interestingly, select mathematicians have been granted early access to the Deep Think 2.5 model—the same one that recently competed in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). The new version builds on research showcased at Google I/O earlier this year. While the previous model was known for its gold-medal-level performance, it was slow. The latest version, though, is significantly faster and better suited for everyday problem-solving.

ALSO READ: 'What Have We Done?': OpenAI CEO Sam Altman On GPT-5

According to Google, this updated model “incorporates feedback from early testers and reflects recent research progress.” Internally, it now achieves Bronze-level performance on the 2025 IMO benchmark. Though it’s technically a step down from the earlier gold standard, the improvements in speed and usability mark a notable tradeoff—and one that could benefit users day to day.