Google has made available its voice-powered AI chatbot feature, Gemini Live, free to all Android users. The feature, which allows the users to speak to Google’s AI Chatbot via voice commands, was previously available fully to Gemini Advanced subscribers.
The new feature enables all Android users to utilize the chatbot’s dialogue functions which now include asking questions by voice and interrupting answers in the process.
This announcement comes after the first launch of the Gemini Live application last month at Google’s Pixel 9 event. Android users can now easily enable the feature directly by pressing a waveform icon within the Gemini application which allows them to start using voice interactions with the AI. The rollout comes at a time when Open AI’s competing feature, Advanced Voice Mode for ChatGPT has not yet been completely rolled out.
Users can now access Gemini’s voice mode with more control
Gemini Live’s most notable functionality includes the ability for users to ask questions aloud, interrupt responses in the middle of a sentence, and choose different voices for AI’s replies. This hands-free feature adds some degree of flexibility and personalization, making the conversations with AI more fluid and responsive. Apart from managing the discussion in real-time, the participants can also “hold” the responses or “end” the conversation anytime whenever required.
Although, at first, the voice-controlling capacity was a feature of a paid service, this voice-powered feature is now available in the free version of the Gemini application. Android users can start using the app or overlay to have access to it right away. Currently, the voice mode is optimized only to support the English language, however, Google has confirmed plans to add more languages and make this feature available on iOS devices as well although no exact timeline has been given.
Google launches Gemini Live as OpenAI’s voice feature lags behind
The timing of this launch puts Google in front of OpenAI, which made known its Advanced Voice Mode for ChatGPT in May. However, this feature offered by Open AI has not yet been made widely available, having gone on limited availability since late July. Other industry insiders further suggested that the long period of waiting may be because of the high computational power needed to support voice-based AI interactions, especially on a large scale.
The move by Google to launch Gemini Live for free contrasts with OpenAI’s staggered release of a similar feature. While OpenAI keeps developing a strategy for a wider adoption, Google’s release puts Gemini Live in the hands of the users who are keen to interact with AI by speaking as opposed to typing making this a competitive edge between the two companies.
Currently, Gemini Live is accessible on Android devices and Google plans to add more functionality as it develops the service.
