Gemini Live: Google’s Leap in the Generative AI Race
Google has taken a significant leap in the generative AI race with the announcement of Gemini Live, a new voice mode for its AI model Gemini. This puts Google on par with rivals such as Meta, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Mistral. Gemini Live allows users to have free-flowing conversations with the AI model in plain, conversational language. Users can even interrupt and change topics, just like they would in a regular phone call.
While OpenAI had previously demoed its own “Advanced Voice Mode” for ChatGPT, Google is now making a similar feature more widely available to a much larger audience. Gemini Live is currently available in English on the Google Gemini app for Android devices through a Gemini Advanced subscription. An iOS version and support for more languages will follow in the coming weeks.
One reason for OpenAI’s delay in releasing ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode may have been its internal security testing, which revealed potential risks. In some cases, the voice mode engaged in odd and disconcerting behavior, such as mimicking the user’s voice without consent. Google has not yet addressed how it plans to mitigate potential harms caused by this technology.
Gemini Live offers a natural and free-flowing conversation experience that is useful for brainstorming ideas, preparing for important conversations, or casual chatting about various topics. It can operate hands-free, allowing users to continue interacting even when their device is locked or running other apps in the background.
Google has also integrated the Gemini AI model fully into the Android user experience, providing context-aware assistance tailored to the device. Users can access Gemini by long-pressing the power button or saying “Hey Google.” This integration allows Gemini to interact with the content on the screen, such as providing details about a YouTube video or generating a list of restaurants from a travel vlog to add directly into Google Maps.
Sissie Hsiao, Vice President and General Manager of Gemini Experiences and Google Assistant, emphasized in a blog post that the evolution of AI has reimagined what it means for a personal assistant to be truly helpful. With these updates, Gemini aims to offer a more intuitive and conversational experience, making it a reliable sidekick for complex tasks.
In conclusion, Google’s introduction of Gemini Live demonstrates its commitment to advancing AI technology and providing users with a more seamless and natural conversation experience. Despite being a late entrant into the generative AI race, Google has made a significant stride in catching up with its rivals and making this technology more accessible to a wider audience. However, concerns regarding potential risks and harms associated with this technology still need to be addressed.