Google smart home compatibility will now be open to everyone, allowing for the use of Google Home devices and apps automation to developers. In addition, Chromecast with Google TV and other local control will be added to its smart home hubs.

By proxy, enabling an open API policy for Google Home will mean access to Works With Google or Matter devices, which makes professionals capable of building custom smart home experiences with these devices.

Coinciding with its opening to Home APIs, Google will also be refreshing its TVs into Google Home Hubs. This means a Google hub will be required in a customer’s home to control Matter devices, locally with an app and a combination of Chromecast and Google TV, certain panel TVs and Google TV running Android 14 or higher and various LG TVs be upgraded as Google Home hubs will result, in accordance.

Google will also update existing home hubs with a feature called Home Runtime. This will make all hubs for Google Home capable of routing commands from apps built with Home APIs to a user Matter device (the home and device must be on the same WiFi network).

Google says Home Runtime is designed to be secure and private with access to custom apps requiring granted access to custom apps before communicating with home devices. Access can be revoked anytime using the Google Home app. (Note that Google certification will need to be attained by developers for the use of APIs).