Google Rolls Out Gemini AI Voice Feature to Android Users for Free

Google rolls out Gemini Live for free to Android users

Paid parking in Dubai: Residents face up to Dh4,000 extra yearly costs when new rates kick in Google has started offering its next-generation voice assistant, Gemini Live, free of charge to all English-speaking Android users through the Gemini app. Previously available only via a $20 monthly Google One AI Premium subscription, this move gives millions of users access to Google's cutting-edge AI technology without a paywall. Debuted at Google I/O 2024, Gemini Live stands out for its ability to engage in natural, flowing conversations. Unlike traditional voice assistants, which often rely on short, rigid commands, Gemini Live allows users to interrupt mid-sentence, shift topics, and carry on conversations as they would with a real person. The AI is powered by Google's advanced Gemini Pro 1.5 model, and it learns and adapts to the user's communication style over time, creating a more personalised and intuitive experience. To access Gemini Live, Android users simply tap the "Live" icon in the bottom-right corner of the Gemini app, immediately starting a conversation. This free version gives users a taste of Google's premium AI assistant without needing to subscribe, marking the first time that non-paying customers have access to the Gemini Pro 1.5 model. Despite the advanced capabilities of Gemini Live, it comes with some restrictions. Unlike Gemini 1.5 Pro available to premium subscribers, the free version does not yet integrate with popular Google services like Gmail or Google Docs. Advanced features are still locked behind the Google One AI Premium subscription, meaning users who want these capabilities will need to upgrade. Still, in day-to-day use, there's little noticeable difference between the free Gemini Live and the paid version for most users, making it a valuable offering for anyone looking to enhance their mobile experience with a more intelligent voice assistant. Google's decision to offer Gemini Live free of charge could be a strategic move to gather more training data for future AI models. While the system doesn't store voice recordings, transcribed conversations will be used to further refine the AI's capabilities. It's important to note that human reviewers may still examine anonymised data for quality assurance, and Google advises users to avoid sharing confidential information in these conversations -- something that may prove challenging when chatting naturally.

Google's Gemini AI Voice Feature Is Finally Coming To Android Users For Free: How To Make It Work - News18

Google introduced Gemini Live at the Pixel 9 launch event in August and its support has been limited to the paid subscribers of the AI chatbot till now. Google is now making Gemini Live, its two-way conversational AI feature, available for free to all Android users. Initially introduced at Google I/O in May and previously accessible only to Gemini Advanced subscribers, Gemini Live is now being rolled out to all Gemini users on Android devices. This feature enables users to engage in natural conversations with the chatbot directly on their devices. Previously, it was only available to Advance subscribers. The news was shared by the Google Gemini App via a post on X, which says, "We're starting to make Gemini Live available in English to more people using the Android app for free. Go Live to communicate with Gemini, explore a new topic, or brainstorm ideas. Keep an eye on Gemini Live with the Gemini app." While this is certainly good news for millions of Android users, the update will initially be available only in English, with support for additional languages coming soon. Meanwhile, iPhone users can only access Gemini Live through the iOS Google app and will not have access to the free version of the chatbot for now. - Open the Gemini App on your device. - Now, look for a new circular waveform icon with a sparkle, located in the bottom right corner of the app and click on it - Window will appear on the screen with Hold and End buttons. - To end a conversation tap on the Notification or just say 'Stop'. - Once the conversation ends, the AI feature will generate a textual transcript of your prompts. The feature also maintains a history of all your conversations, allowing users to review previous interactions or restart conversations as needed. As per a report by 9To5Google, the update features 10 new voice modes for Gemini, enhancing the user experience. These include: Nova - Calm and Mid-Range VoiceVega- Bright, Higher VoiceUrsa- Engaged, Mid-Range VoicePegasus - Engaged, Deeper VoiceOrbit- Energetic, Deeper VoiceLyra- Bright, Higher VoiceDipper- Engaged, Deeper VoiceOrion- Bright, Deeper VoiceCapella- British Accent, Higher VoiceEclipse Energetic- Mid-Range VoiceThe company introduced the AI assistant with the Pixel 9 series last month but you needed the Gemini AI advanced subscription to use the feature. Opening the gate to Gemini Live for free allows Google to increase its reach and gather more inputs on the quality of the conversations the AI chatbot can offer.