Android users can now download and use Gemini Live at no cost.
🤖 Hey There! Let's chat about the slick update to Gemini Live on Android! 📲
Google unexpectedly dropped the barrier for customers, announcing the removal of charges for utilizing Gemini Live's camera and screen-sharing features on Wednesday (source: The Verge). This decision comes from the positive feedback received during user trials and plans to distribute these groundbreaking features to all Android users soon. You might have them already!
🌟 Gemini Live's Evolution
Gemini Live is the live chat version of Google's AI assistant, initially offering audio-only interactions like traditional phone conversations. In March 2022, Google debuted "Gemini Live with Video," adding two valuable components: access to the camera and screen-sharing capabilities. With these new additions, you could virtually explore surrounding areas by permitting Gemini access to your camera, aiding in translation tasks with foreign signs, or share your screen for queries about on-going activities. Previously, these enhanced features were only accessible to users subscribed to Gemini Advanced, requiring a pocket-lightening $20 monthly fee.
Now, the delightful surprise: Android smartphone users no longer need a subscription to explore these electrifying features. As long as your Android device can run the latest version of the Gemini app, you're good to go! It seems Google realized the magnitude of AI training data secured through the extended user-base, outweighing the regular monthly revenue from subscribers (source: The Verge). This approach contrasts with competitors like OpenAI, requiring a subscription upgrade to access advanced voice mode's camera and screen-share features.
🎫 Trying Out the New Features
Lifehacker's David Nield took Gemini Live's camera and screen-share features for a spin earlier this month when they were exclusive to Samsung Galaxy S25 and Pixel 9 users. His experience showed the AI's potential, albeit with a few hiccups along the way—misidentifying a Fitbit model or getting a soccer match's date wrong. Nevertheless, the AI successfully translated social media posts and identified soccer match winners, demonstrating an impressive mix of capabilities (source: Lifehacker).
While these features became available as of April 16, 2022, don't fret if you haven't seen the options on the latest version of the Gemini app yet. Google mentioned the rollout will continue over the coming weeks, so just be patient! 😊
- Tech enthusiasts are looking forward to the newly free camera and screen-sharing features on Gemini Live, as announced for all Android users on Wednesday, straight from Google.
- Users can soon enjoy Gemini's technological advancements without the need for a subscription, as the Gemini app on Android devices running the latest version will provide access to these features.
- The Android ecosystem, comprising smartphones like Samsung Galaxy and Google's Pixel series, will be the first to experience the groundbreaking camera and screen-sharing capabilities within the Gemini Live app.
- As the platform evolves, conversations with Gemini Live are expected to become even more engaging, encompassing visual interactions alongside traditional audio-based discussions.
- This week, gadget lovers are excited about the latest developments in artificial intelligence, as Gemini Live, Google's AI assistant, continues to expand its functionalities, making it a standout amidst other AI players in the tech market.
