Google introduced dynamic audio grouping on the Nest Hub and other Assistant-compatible smart displays earlier this year. This function allows you to add and remove devices from audio groups on the fly without having to modify the groups first. This feature started rolling out in the Google Home app last week and allows for a workaround that allows you to stream videos to Chromecast devices while audio is streaming to Nest speakers.

The new user interface lets you easily create an audio group that combines Chromecast and Nest devices. Usually, it’s only for music. However, it seems that once a vibrant group has been created, it also appears as a distribution target in video-centric apps like YouTube and Disney +.

This allows you to watch videos on Chromecast devices while audio is playing through the paired Nest speakers in the group. The current success rate seems to vary – some say it works well with videos streamed from the YouTube app, but report difficult issues when streaming from third-party services like Disney +.

While this isn’t the home entertainment solution we’ve come to expect from Google, it seems like a solid step in that direction. Apple’s new HomePod Mini speakers work with Apple TV devices to create a complete sound system, and I look forward to the day when Google products do the same. For now, this workaround offers a tantalizing taste of what’s confirmed to be in store down the road.