Google Assistant has typically been pretty good at answering questions, sounding very natural and also being able to understand context to a certain degree. However, ever since Google introduced Gemini Live, the company has taken it to the next level. But Google’s not done. The company has started a wider rollout of Gemini Live on Android with support for native audio.
Gemini Live for Android gets native audio
For those who have never used Gemini Live, think of it as a souped up version of Google Assistant. You can speak with it in natural language using your voice and ask it questions like you normally would an AI assistant. While Gemini Live in its current state sounds pretty natural and somewhat convincing, Google has upped the ante.
9to5Google reports that Google has started a wider rollout of an update that introduces native audio support to Gemini Live on Android. What does this mean? Basically, the update will improve the way Gemini Live uses elements of human speech. For example, if you’re talking about a topic that’s stressful, or if you sound stressed, Gemini Live might respond with a calmer voice.
This is actually pretty cool and makes the AI feel less like, well, AI. This is more important than you think. Imagine the times you’ve ever felt frustrated talking to someone because they just couldn’t understand how you’re feeling. By having Gemini offer a counter to the way you sound or feel, it could make users feel better or less stressed.
Only on Android for now
Now, the bad news is that if you’re an iOS user with the Gemini app installed, you won’t see native audio support yet. It seems that it is only available on Android for now. Also, you will need to have a paid subscription to Google’s AI Pro plan (or higher). If you’re a free user, then you won’t be able to access this new feature.
In addition to native audio support, the update also gives users more control over how Gemini speaks. Users can assign it various accents as well as slow down or speed up the output. Note that this only lasts for the entire duration of the conversation. If you start a new conversation, it will reset. But you can always revisit the older conversation to go back to your previous settings.
