Google has officially made its voice-powered Gemini Live feature available to all Android users. This feature, which allows users to interact with Google’s AI chatbot via voice commands, was previously available only to Gemini Advanced subscribers.
Gemini Live voice feature capabilities
The new feature enables all Android users to utilize the chatbot’s dialogue functions, including asking questions by voice and interrupting answers mid-sentence. Key functionalities include the ability to ask questions aloud, interrupt responses, and choose different voices for AI’s replies. This adds flexibility and personalization, making interactions with AI more fluid and responsive.
Availability and update features
The feature was first announced at Google’s Pixel 9 event last month. Android users can now easily enable the feature by pressing a waveform icon within the Gemini application. Initially, voice control was a paid service, but it is now part of the free version of the app. Currently, the voice mode is optimized for English only, though Google plans to add more languages and make this feature available on iOS devices, with no specific timeline provided.
Comparison with competitors
This launch positions Google ahead of OpenAI, which announced its Advanced Voice Mode for ChatGPT in May. However, OpenAI’s feature has yet to be widely rolled out, being on limited availability since late July. Industry insiders suggest that the delay may be due to the high computational power required to support large-scale voice-based AI interactions. Google’s move to launch Gemini Live for free contrasts with OpenAI’s staggered release, providing Gemini Live directly to users who prefer voice interaction with AI over typing, thus giving Google a competitive edge.
Currently, Gemini Live is accessible on Android devices, and Google plans to add more functionalities as the service evolves.
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