Google is rolling out Fuchsia OS as an update to the first-generation Nest Hub. References to Fuchsia OS were first discovered in 2016, with the OS being billed as an Android replacement then.
Four years later, Google is rolling out Fuchsia OS on an actual device, though you’ll be hard-pressed to find the changes.
Fuchsia OS Comes to the Google Nest Hub
For now, only the first-generation Google Nest Hub is getting an update to Fuchsia OS. Google initially launched the device in 2018. Google confirmed the roll out to 9to5Google, though the publication notes that the rollout will take months as it will be first available for Nest Hub owners who are a part of the Preview Program.
You don’t ship a new operating system every day, but today is that day.
— Petr Hosek (@petrh) May 25, 2021
If you are a first-gen. Google Nest Hub owner, don’t get too excited about the update, though. Google is merely replacing the Linux-based Cast OS running on the Nest Hub with Fuchsia OS. The update does not bring any UI changes or functionality improvements, which one would usually expect with a new OS update.
Google’s Plans With Fuchsia OS Is Still Unclear
So, why exactly is Google rolling out Fuchsia OS to the Nest Hub if it does not bring any notable improvements? The company’s plans with Fuchsia OS are still unclear, and it is possible that it could eventually roll out some major new features for its smart display once it is running Fuchsia OS.
Internally, Google has tested Fuchsia OS on a variety of smart home devices and Chromebooks with different form factors, so don’t be surprised if the OS makes its way to other Google devices down the line as well.