Meet Gemini Live: Google's New AI Chatbot Replacement

At the Made by Google 2024 event, the spotlight was on major product updates, though the focus was primarily on hardware. Despite this, Gemini took center stage, showcasing its advanced AI capabilities and its integration across various devices. Google is evolving its technology by expanding Gemini and replacing the traditional Google Assistant with a new voice-based chat version.

The event, although hardware-heavy, featured Gemini AI prominently, especially in its live demonstrations. Google has introduced a new version of OpenAI’s Advanced Voice Mode, making it the default assistant on their latest devices, effectively phasing out Google Assistant. The demonstration extended beyond Pixel phones, using generative AI on other devices to provide a comprehensive look at its features.

Gemini Live is the new voice chat iteration of Gemini AI, designed for natural conversations through simple text prompts. It is available to Android users with a Gemini Advanced subscription, included in the Google One AI Premium Plan at $20 per month. For Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL users, the service is free for the first year. Google emphasizes user privacy, noting that data processing is secure and typically remains on the device.

The new AI-powered voice feature utilizes an advanced speech engine for a more responsive and consistent chatbot experience. It can understand and adapt to different tones and handle follow-up questions. Gemini 1.5 Pro and Gemini 1.5 Flash enhance the generative AI’s ability to handle more context and longer conversations. However, while Gemini Live boasts impressive voice capabilities, it currently lacks multimodal input, which may be introduced later this year.