Walmart appears set to launch a budget smart speaker featuring Google Gemini, marking the first third-party device to incorporate Google's advanced AI. The Onn-branded speaker, spotted on the Connectivity Standards Alliance website, would undercut Google's own unreleased $100 Home Speaker, bringing sophisticated AI to more affordable hardware.

The forthcoming device boasts Google Cast for Audio, smart home controls, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 10W driver. Privacy-conscious users will appreciate the far-field microphone array with a hardware kill switch that completely disables the microphone. Its compact, simple design aligns with Walmart's affordable Onn product lineup.

While no official pricing or release date has been confirmed, the CSA listing suggests Walmart could introduce the speaker soon. The device represents Google's expansion of Gemini beyond its own hardware ecosystem, potentially democratizing advanced AI capabilities for consumers who want smart home features without premium pricing.

This move follows a period since late 2023 where no third-party smart speakers featured Google's latest AI technology. The Onn speaker could accelerate Google's strategy to compete with Amazon and Apple in the smart home market, potentially forcing competitors to reconsider their approaches to budget AI devices.