No more a simple assistant: Google unveils Gemini Live

Google announced significant upgrades to its AI model, Gemini, introducing more natural conversations and integration with its services.

 Gemini Live (photo credit: GOOGLE, official site)
Gemini Live
(photo credit: GOOGLE, official site)

At the Made by Google 2024 event, Google shared its vision for a future where artificial intelligence becomes an integral part of our daily lives. The highlight of the event was the announcement of significant upgrades to Gemini, the company’s AI model. With new features like Gemini Live and integrations with various Google services, Gemini is becoming more intuitive, useful, and friendly than ever.

Gemini Live, the core feature of this new assistant, allows users to have natural, flowing voice conversations with Gemini, just as if they were talking to a friend. You can ask it to find a job that matches your skills, discuss new ideas, and even interrupt it mid-sentence if something particularly interests you. You can also resume the conversation later, much like continuing a regular phone call.

According to Google, Gemini not only handles conversations but also integrates seamlessly with other Google apps like Gmail, Keep, and YouTube Music. You can ask it to find an old recipe emailed to you, add ingredients to your shopping list, and even create a playlist to match your mood. Soon, integration with your calendar will also be available, allowing you to check your availability for events and set reminders.

On Android devices, Gemini will be deeply integrated into the operating system, offering advanced contextual capabilities. You can activate it at any time by long-pressing the power button or using the voice command "OK Google." You can ask it questions about the content displayed on the screen and even drag and drop images created by Gemini directly into other apps.

"We truly believe that the benefits of an AI-based digital assistant outweigh the challenges it presents, and we're excited to see you experiment with it as the assistant of the new Pixel 9, Google’s latest mobile phone," the company stated. "We are only beginning to explore all the ways an AI-powered digital assistant can be helpful and useful—and just like the Pixel phone, Gemini keeps getting better over time."