How I use Google Gemini to make smart home automations

Google’s smart home ecosystem integrates with Nest cameras, smart thermostats, lights, and more. While the Google Home app covers basic routines, setting up advanced automation requires coding skills, which users often find difficult. While there’s still some learning, Google Gemini makes coding automations user-friendly and less technical. Here’s how to use the script editor for advanced automation and how Gemini simplifies the process.

Exploring the advantages of advanced YAML automations

The script editor lets you create custom automation using simple, action-oriented language. This allows devices to respond to multiple conditions, trigger routines, and better communicate. The script editor is in public preview. After joining the preview, you can access it through Google Home on the web or in the Google Home app.

A basic Google Home automation turns on your living room lights when you get home, using one or two triggers and actions. You can personalize the routine for a customized experience. For example, the automation could check if it’s after 6 PM and if the outdoor temperature is below 75F before turning on the lights.

You can add a fallback condition. If the system detects rain through a weather API, it switches on a dehumidifier and adjusts the thermostat for a rainy day. Such detailed conditions, triggers, and actions aren’t achievable within the basic Google Home interface, which shows how flexible the script editor is.

YAML scripting: The backbone of advanced automations

YAML (YAML Ain’t Markup Language) powers Google’s script editor. It offers a simple, structured way to represent data, much like writing step-by-step instructions for your devices in plain language. Unlike complex programming languages, YAML is designed to be beginner-friendly. Next, we’ll explore YAML basics.

Key-value pairs define actions and triggers

YAML is organized using key-value pairs, where each key is followed by a colon and a space, followed by the corresponding value. The key acts as a label, while the value represents the associated data. This data can be as simple as a string, number, or date or as complex as another set of key-value pairs.

name: TV on lights off

In this example, the key is name, and the value is TV on lights off. This defines the name of the automation in your smart home system.

Indentation and nested key-value pairs

YAML relies on a two-space indentation for structure and hierarchy. This shows which tasks or actions are grouped together. For example, if you want your smart home to turn off the lights when the TV is turned on, you would group those actions under a main category like this:

metadata:

name: TV on lights off

description: Turn off lights when TV turns on

In this example, metadata is the main concept (or parent key), and beneath it are two tasks. The first names the automation, and the second describes what it does.

Lists can handle more complicated automation scenarios

If a key requires more than one value, YAML lets you make lists, with each item starting with a hyphen (–) followed by a space. For example, to run an automation on several days of the week:

weekday:

– MONDAY

– THURSDAY

Comments in YAML explain what each section does. They don’t impact the automation and are ignored by the system. To add a comment, start the text with a # symbol.

Understanding the core elements of automation rules

Automation rules are built from three essential components:

• Starters are the triggers that initiate automation.
• Conditions are optional checks that must be true for the automation to continue.
• Actions are the tasks your devices execute.

Let’s put everything we discussed into practice by creating a morning routine automation. Here’s how that could look in YAML, depending on your smart device configuration:

# Automation name

alias: Morning Routine

# The trigger is at 7 AM

trigger:

– platform: time

at: ’07:00:00′

# Only run if it’s still dark outside (before sunrise)

condition:

– condition: sun

before: sunrise

# Actions to perform

action:

# Turn on the kitchen lights

– service: light.turn_on

entity_id: light.kitchen_light

# Play the morning playlist

– service: media_player.play_media

entity_id: media_player.living_room_speaker

data:

media_content_id: ‘playlist.morning_playlist’

media_content_type: ‘playlist’

# Set the living room temperature

– service: climate.set_temperature

entity_id: climate.living_room_thermostat

data:

temperature: 72

This automation triggers at 7 AM. It checks if the sun has risen before turning on the lights (Condition). If the condition is met, it turns on the kitchen light, plays your playlist, and sets the temperature to 72F (Action).

Gemini simplifies writing advanced YAML automation

Google integrated Gemini into the Help me script feature on the Google Home web interface. You describe your automation idea in plain English and Help me script generates the code to put in the editor.

When used separately through the chatbot, Gemini becomes more versatile. It can guide you through the process step-by-step for a detailed script and offer suggestions you might not have considered.

Gemini helps you create automation from the ground up

Gemini can guide you through step-by-step instructions for creating the perfect automation. Provide detailed triggers, actions, and conditions to achieve the best results. A vague request like “Create an automation to play YouTube Music at home” won’t work well. Instead, specify the exact time, device, and conditions you need.

If you’re unsure what triggers or actions to include, ask Gemini for step-by-step assistance. It can offer ideas for fine-tuning your prompt.

Gemini helps you spot and fix YAML errors

Writing in YAML can sometimes result in syntax errors that stop your automation from working. Gemini identifies and corrects these issues before they cause problems. When the issues are fixed, your script is ready for testing in your automation system.

Gemini helps you optimize your existing automation

Gemini can review and optimize your existing automation. If multiple actions can be combined, Gemini recommends doing so. For example, you may have one automation that turns on the living room lights when you get home and another that turns them off at bedtime. Gemini may suggest merging them into a single automation using time or presence-based triggers.

Limitations of Gemini for smart home automation

Gemini is a powerful YAML code generator, but its code often needs adjustments to suit your devices. This means updating entity IDs, refining conditions, or adding actions. Review and test the automation to ensure it works as intended.

Think of Gemini as a time-saving assistant that sometimes requires manual fine-tuning. The Google Home Automation community is a great resource if you have issues or want to learn from others. You can find help with scripts, see what others are working on, and exchange ideas to refine your automation.

Gemini’s potential to simplify your everyday routines

Gemini is a powerful, multipurpose large language model. In addition to improving Google’s smart home ecosystem, it can automate routines on Android devices and handle complex activities. This includes booking flights and hotels, scheduling meetings, sending emails, or organizing files.