Google Home is taking a significant step towards making smart home management more collaborative and convenient. The tech giant is currently testing a new feature that enables users to grant varying levels of access to friends and family members, allowing them to help manage smart devices around the home.

This new feature, available to users enrolled in the Google Home public preview, introduces two primary access levels: "Admin" and "Member". Admin access provides full control over account and device permissions, making it ideal for trusted partners or individuals who co-manage the home. Admins can add, remove, and manage users, add and remove devices, and link subscriptions to the home account.

On the other hand, Member access offers more limited control, allowing users to manage basic device controls such as viewing live security camera feeds and adjusting personal settings like voice and face match assistant features. However, Members can be granted additional permissions through two further tiers: "Settings" and "Activity". The "Settings" tier enables full control over devices and home-wide settings, including automation and Nest Wifi device network features, while the "Activity" tier authorizes access to device and home-wide history for devices like cameras, locks, and sensors.

The customizable Member access was first announced in November alongside the Google Home extension for Gemini. To invite someone to the new access levels, users can open the Google Home app settings, tap "Household and access," and select the plus icon to invite a new home member. Notably, those invited don't need to be enrolled in the public preview themselves, but will need to be running the latest version of the Google Home app.

This development marks a significant shift in Google Home's approach to smart home management, acknowledging the importance of collaboration and flexibility in modern households. By providing customizable access levels, Google Home is catering to the diverse needs of its users, from families with children to individuals living with roommates or partners.

The implications of this feature extend beyond the Google Home ecosystem, as it sets a new standard for smart home management platforms to prioritize collaboration and accessibility. As the smart home market continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how other players in the industry respond to Google Home's move.

For now, the new access tiers are only available to users enrolled in the Google Home public preview. However, if the feature proves successful, it's likely that Google will roll it out to all users in the near future. As the smart home landscape continues to evolve, one thing is clear: Google Home is committed to making smart home management more inclusive, convenient, and collaborative.