Google's Gemini Live on almost any Android phone

Google’s latest AI update, Gemini Live, is now available to all users. If you’re an Android fan, here’s some exciting news: the Gemini Live upgrade is now accessible to anyone using an Android phone set to English, without needing a Gemini Advanced subscription. As long as you’ve installed Gemini for Android, you can start using this enhanced AI assistant right away. In this article, I’ll explain what’s new with Gemini Live, how to make the most of it, and if you’re wondering where Google Assistant has gone, I’ve got that covered too. (If you’re not a fan of Google AI, you can always turn to ChatGPT instead.)

What is Gemini Live?

Gemini is Google’s new AI-powered chatbot app and the underlying models that run it, and Gemini Live is the latest feature for interacting with the app using your voice. Initially introduced at the Pixel 9 launch in August, it was only available to Gemini Advanced subscribers.

While talking to Gemini on your phone isn’t new, Gemini Live makes the experience feel much more natural. It’s similar to the Advanced Voice mode on ChatGPT, allowing you to interrupt the bot mid-conversation, pause chats, and choose from a variety of voices.

While the AI models behind Gemini remain the same, Gemini Live enhances the experience to make it feel more like a real conversation, even though it’s not actually a human. The new voice interaction is notably smoother and more fluid compared to previous versions.

Which Android Phones Support Gemini Live?

If you can run the Gemini app on your Android device, you can use Gemini Live. Google states that the app requires at least 2GB of RAM and Android 10 or later, so most Android phones and tablets should be compatible. If Gemini isn’t already installed, you’ll need to download the app, and it will replace Google Assistant on your device.

Across Google’s apps and devices, Google Assistant is being phased out, and Gemini will take over as the primary AI bot, although Assistant will continue to support older devices and apps for now.

How to Talk to Gemini Live

Once Gemini is installed on your phone, open the app and tap the small sound wave icon next to the text box to start a conversation. You’ll be prompted to choose a default voice, and then you can chat about anything you like. Feel free to interrupt the bot if it goes off-topic.

You can pause or stop conversations using the buttons at the bottom of the interface. Additionally, you can switch to other apps and continue talking with Gemini. To end the chat, simply say “stop” or swipe down the notification at the top of the screen and select “End Live mode.”

While Gemini Live feels more natural, it’s still prone to the same mistakes and hallucinations as any other AI—just because it sounds more human doesn’t mean it’s flawless. Always verify the information with a reliable source.

How to Access Your Chat History with Gemini Live

To view your previous chats, tap the speech bubble in the top left corner. From there, you can tap a chat to resume it, or long-press to pin, rename, or delete it.

How to Change Gemini Live’s Voice

To adjust Gemini Live’s voice, tap your Google account picture in the top right corner, select “Settings,” and then choose a new voice for the assistant. In this menu, you can also toggle the option to interrupt Gemini Live.

You can still interact with Gemini in other ways, such as typing your prompts, uploading files or images for analysis, or using the microphone button for voice input. When using these methods, however, you’ll receive text responses instead of spoken ones. You can switch between text and voice modes during the same conversation if needed.