Google has extended its Gemini Live functionality to all Gemini Advanced members with Android devices, enhancing AI interactions with added conversational capabilities. Gemini Live facilitates more fluid voice conversations with the AI assistant. Users can ask for further details mid-conversation, resulting in a more interactive and engaging experience. The feature is available via the latest Gemini app update or through the mobile assistant feature.
Requirements and Limitations
To use this feature, users must be 18 years or older, set their device language to English (US), and must have a personal Google account. The service does not extend to Google work or school accounts and currently does not include the use of Gems.
Steps to Access Gemini Live
To start utilizing Gemini Live on an Android device, follow these instructions:
- Launch the Gemini app or activate it using the “Hey Google” command.
- Tap the Live icon located at the bottom of the Gemini interface.
- Complete the on-screen setup instructions if you're a first-time user.
- Start engaging with the AI after finishing the setup.
- To disable the microphone, say “stop” or use the on-screen Hold or End buttons.
The device must be unlocked to access Gemini Live. Notifications for Gemini Live can be enabled to interact with the AI while multitasking on other apps.
Expansion Plans
Google intends to extend Gemini Live to both the Gemini web platform and iOS devices soon, aiming to provide a unified AI experience across various environments. Following the Pixel 9 series introduction, Google rolled out Gemini Live, allowing organic conversations with the AI service.
Now, the feature is accessible to all compatible Android devices, not limited to Pixel phones. The goal is to enable dialogue with AI, similar to other AI services like ChatGPT and Siri.
Gemini Live is accessible on any Android device that supports the Gemini app, requiring a subscription to the Google One “Premium AI” plan at $20 per month, with a one-month free trial. English is currently the only supported language, but more languages will be added in the future.
AI Conversations with Gemini Live
Gemini Live seeks to replicate human conversation with voice profiles like Ursa, characterized by a mid-range tone. However, it lacks adaptability in aspects like pitch, timbre, or speed, limiting user personalization. Unlike OpenAI's Advanced Voice Mode, Gemini Live does not simulate human-like attributes such as laughter, breathing, or pauses, contributing to a more robotic user experience.
Last month, user experiences suggested that Gemini Live is struggling with accuracy. The practical implementation of Gemini Live has revealed several shortcomings. For instance, when tasked with simulating job interviews, the assistant's responses were overly general, failing to provide personalized guidance.
Additionally, it displayed a propensity for confidently asserting false information, a phenomenon commonly referred to as “hallucinating.” When queried about budget-friendly activities in New York City, the assistant suggested obsolete venues, such as a nightclub that had been closed since 2019.
