Gemini Live is now available to Advanced subscribers, along with conversational overlay on Android and even more connected apps
Google’s Gemini has introduced new AI-powered mobile assistance features, significantly enhancing the capabilities of traditional digital assistants. The highlight is “Gemini Live,” a conversational experience that allows users to engage in free-flowing, hands-free interactions with Gemini, making it feel like a personal sidekick in your pocket. Users can pause conversations, dive deeper into topics, and choose from 10 new voices for a more natural interaction. Initially rolling out to Advanced subscribers on Android, Gemini Live will soon be available on iOS and in additional languages.
Gemini also offers improved integration with various Google apps, enabling seamless task management without switching between apps. For instance, users can ask Gemini to retrieve a recipe from Gmail and add ingredients to a shopping list in Keep. New extensions like Calendar, Keep, and Tasks, along with expanded YouTube Music features, further enhance its utility. For example, users can take a photo of a concert flier and ask Gemini to check their calendars and set reminders.
On Android, Gemini is deeply integrated, offering context-aware assistance throughout the user experience. It can interact with apps on the screen, such as summarising YouTube videos or adding items to Google Maps. This deep integration allows users to long-press the power button or use the “Hey Google” command to instantly access Gemini’s help.
Why is this important?
Despite its impressive advancements, Gemini is aware of the challenges posed by AI, particularly with speed and accuracy in handling simple tasks. To address these, Google has introduced the Gemini 1.5 Flash model, which delivers faster and higher-quality responses. Future updates will focus on further improving speed, accuracy, and deeper integration with Google services like Home, Phone, and Messages.
Google sees this as a pivotal moment in the evolution of AI assistants, believing that the benefits of AI-powered assistance now outweigh the challenges. The company is committed to continuous improvement, making Gemini the default assistant on upcoming devices like the Google Pixel 9, with expectations that its capabilities will only grow over time.